In literacy development, what does the term "grapheme" refer to?

The term "grapheme" refers specifically to a written representation of a sound, forming the foundation for understanding how written language corresponds to spoken language. It can include single letters (like 'a' or 'b') or combinations of letters that represent a single sound, such as 'sh' in 'shoe.' Understanding graphemes is crucial for literacy development because it helps learners connect phonetic sounds to their written forms, enabling them to read and write effectively.

Other terms in the options might relate to aspects of language and literacy, but they do not define graphemes. The meaning of a word pertains to semantics, while the pronunciation of a letter focuses on phonetics rather than the written aspect. The context refers to the surrounding text that informs meaning but is not directly related to the representation of sound in writing.