Why Do We Need to Know Phonology?

Understanding and learning about phonology is important for a number of reasons, some of which were outlined in a study by Louisa Moats and Carol Tolman entitled "Why Phonological Awareness is Important for Reading and Spelling."

Teaching non-native speakers
Predicting later educational issues
Learning other languages
Understanding sounds
Helping poor readers
Stressing the importance of vocabulary

Teaching Non-Native Speakers

Non-native speakers often have a great deal of problems with phonology. Therefore, by understanding the discipline, we can be aware of the specific types of problems that they have with vowel sounds, stresses on words and so forth. Understanding these unique problems will allow educators to better tailor lesson plans and individualized instruction to the needs of the non-native populations.

Furthermore, for those who are not teachers, understanding these issues can make us more sensitive to the struggles that ESL learners face with the language.

Predicting Later Educational Issues

According to the two researchers, examinations that test areas of phonological awareness such as vocabulary and the knowledge of letter names provide valuable results for the future. Students who struggle with these building blocks of reading generally struggle with reading as a whole, even later in life when they have had their fair share of academic lessons. Knowing that these problems are likely to arise allows parents and educators to utilize tools that they need early on to solve the issue before it starts.

Learning Other Languages

Simply throwing out words and memorizing them in a frenzy is not a particularly effective way to learn a language. However, understanding the unique blends of sounds that a particular language has and the way they vocalize their vocabulary is. Becoming sensitive to these intonations and processes in our language lays the groundwork for doing so for other ones.

Understanding Sounds

Just because a person can read, does not necessarily mean that the person understands the sounds. There is a difference between remembering word a few particular letters represent and actually knowing the sounds of the word.

For example, the researchers use the example of the word "dog." When asked what the first sound in the word dog is, students with phonological issues tend to say "Woof!" While they have the concept of what the word represents, they do not understand the linguistic component of it.

Helping Poor Readers

This concept relates back to predicting future success as a reader. Many people who cannot read well have issues with this area. Therefore, when educators and tutoring centers are trying to help people who cannot read, they have some direction as to what types of components they should focus on. They should pay attention to parts of reading that directly relates to phonology.

Stressing the Importance of Vocabulary

At the present time, the educational domain is in a debate about whether schools should focus on concepts such as grammar and vocabulary. However, after reading about the importance of phonology, you may see that the answer is that they should give the field at least some attention. Without the building blocks of correct reading and speaking, students cannot progress forward.

Phonology Provides a Start

By understanding the sounds of English, it is easier to understand the difficulties faced by people when they try to learn to speak English. It can be used to determine why the individual is having trouble speaking English and it can help pinpoint what actions need to be taken to help the student.