Terms:

Phoneme: the smallest linguistic unit that is able to differentiate the meaning between words.

For example: adding and /s/ or 'ed' to the end of a word to change its meaning to plural or past tense

Phonemic Inventory: a list of all of the individual consonants and vowels a child is able to produce. Phonology focuses on how these sounds are arranged.

Phonotactics: refers to "allowed combinations" or how phonemes can, or cannot be arranged in a particular language.

For example: there are NO combinations of /ʃ/ + /v/ but there ARE combinations of /ʃ/ + /r/ (shrink)

Phonemic Awareness vs Phonological Awareness:

Phonemic Awareness - An understanding that words are composed of individual sounds

Phonological Awareness - The individual's awareness of the sound structure of a spoken word in contrast to written words

The childs ability to recognize sounds and manipulate them in words to change meaning