INTRODUCTION

The Relevance of the Theme

Understanding writing and speech is the key to mastering effective communication. In our journey through the world of words, it is essential to understand that what we speak is not always how we write. Exploring the universe of phonemes and letters opens the doors to understanding the structure of the Portuguese language. By mastering these concepts, we can read better, write accurately, and speak clearly.

Contextualization

In the grand picture of the Portuguese language, we are outlining the contours of our alphabet and the sounds that each letter represents. Within the curriculum, the theme fits as a fundamental building block, as it is at the heart of how we transform thoughts into written and spoken words. Furthermore, it helps to identify the peculiarities of Portuguese, its exceptions and rules, increasing fluency in reading and the ability to write with coherence and style.

THEORETICAL DEVELOPMENT

Components

• Phoneme:

  • It is the sound of speech.
  • Each phoneme is a basic sound block.
  • Phonemes are represented between slashes, like /a/, /b/, /k/.
  • Few phonemes can correspond to different letters or combinations of letters.
  • In the Portuguese language, we have about 34 phonemes.

• Letter:

  • It is the written symbol.
  • Visually represents the sound, or phoneme.
  • We have 26 letters in the alphabet.
  • Letters can have variations of accents and graphic signs.

• Digraph:

  • Pair of letters representing a single phoneme.
  • Examples: "ch", "lh", "nh".
  • Should not be confused with consonant clusters where each letter is a phoneme.

• Consonant Cluster:

  • Group of two or more consonants without intermediate vowels.
  • Example: "bl" in "bloco", each letter represents a distinct phoneme.

Key Terms

• Alphabet:

  • Set of letters used for writing.
  • In Portuguese, there are 26 letters.

• Orthography:

  • Set of rules for writing words correctly.
  • Involves the proper use of the alphabet and graphic signs.

Examples and Cases

• Phonemes and Letters:

  • The word "casa" has four letters and four phonemes /k/, /a/, /z/, /a/.
  • The word "exceção" has seven letters, but only five phonemes /e/, /s/, /e/, /s/, /ãw/.

• Digraphs in Practice:

  • The word "chave" has five letters and four phonemes /ʃ/, /a/, /v/, /i/.
  • The "ch" is a digraph representing a single phoneme.

• Consonant Cluster in Practice:

  • The word "planta" has six letters and six phonemes /p/, /l/, /a/, /n/, /t/, /a/.
  • "pl" is not a digraph because "p" and "l" are separate phonemes.

Understanding the difference between phonemes and letters and identifying each one is crucial for efficient reading and writing. By exploring these concepts, we unravel the functioning of the Portuguese language in a playful and detailed way.

DETAILED SUMMARY

Relevant Points

• Essence of Phonemes and Letters:

  • Phonemes are sounds and letters are the representation of these sounds on paper.
  • Different letters or combinations can represent the same phoneme.
  • Understanding phonemes facilitates the correct pronunciation of words.

• Digraphs and Consonant Clusters:

  • Digraphs are pairs of letters representing a single sound.
  • Consonant clusters occur when two consonants appear together, but each has its distinct sound.
  • Recognizing digraphs helps understand words that seem to have more sounds than they actually do.

• Importance of Orthography:

  • Orthography guides the correct writing of words.
  • Respecting orthographic rules is crucial for good written communication.
  • Understanding the alphabet and its practical application is the basis of orthography.

Conclusions

• Clarity in Communication:

  • Understanding phonemes and letters contributes to clarity in speaking and writing.
  • Knowing when to use digraphs and consonant clusters avoids common errors.

• Improved Reading and Writing:

  • Correct identification of phonemes aids in word decoding during reading.
  • Spelling knowledge enhances students' writing skills.

• Language Skills:

  • Distinguishing between spoken and written Portuguese enriches language skills.
  • Practicing the recognition of phonemes and letters develops fluency in the Portuguese language.

Exercises

1. Phoneme Identification:

   • Write the word "passarinho" and underline the phonemes that correspond to digraphs.

2. Distinguishing Phonemes and Letters:

   • Count how many phonemes and how many letters are in the word "excepcional". Compare the numbers and discuss the difference.

3. Orthography in Practice:

   • Write five words with digraphs and five words with consonant clusters. Then, circle the digraphs and mark the consonant clusters with a square.

By completing these exercises, students reinforce theoretical learning with practice and solidify the content covered in class.