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The alphabetic principle refers to:

  1. Understanding that words can have multiple meanings

  2. A recognition that letters represent sounds in spoken words

  3. Knowledge of the history of language

  4. Ability to write words accurately

The correct answer is: A recognition that letters represent sounds in spoken words

The alphabetic principle is fundamentally about the relationship between written letters and the sounds they represent in spoken language. It emphasizes that individual letters and combinations of letters correspond to specific phonemes (sounds), which is essential for reading and writing skills. This understanding allows learners to decode written words and understand how these letters are organized to form sounds and create meaning. Mastering the alphabetic principle is crucial for literacy development, as it serves as the foundation for phonics instruction and enables students to move on to more complex reading and language tasks. This principle is also the basis for spelling, as it relies on the understanding of sound-letter relationships.