Letters and sounds are distinct elements in language, and understanding their relationship is crucial to grasp the role of letters in written communication.
Sounds, also known as phonemes, are the basic units of speech. They are the audible building blocks that make up spoken language. When we speak, we produce sounds that combine to form words. For example, the word "cat" is composed of the sounds /k/, /æ/, and /t/.
On the other hand, letters are symbols or characters used in writing systems to represent sounds. In the English alphabet, there are 26 letters that can be combined in various ways to represent the sounds of the language. Each letter generally corresponds to one or more phonemes, but the relationship between letters and sounds is not always one-to-one in English. For instance, the letter "c" can represent the sounds /k/ (as in "cat") or /s/ (as in "cent").
So, letters are primarily used in written language to represent sounds and allow us to transcribe and communicate words on paper or screens. They provide a standardized and visual representation of the sounds we produce when speaking. Letters enable us to preserve and transmit information over time, to communicate across distances, and to learn and analyze language in written form. They are a key aspect of literacy, reading, and writing.
In summary, while sounds are used in both spoken and written language, letters are specific to written communication, providing a visual representation of sounds and facilitating the recording and transmission of language.