Definition of the word phonics

The word "phonics" is derived from two Greek roots: "phones," meaning "sound," and "music," or "art." In the 17th century, a philosopher named John Locke introduced the concept of teaching language through the sounds or phonemes of a language, with the belief that a child's understanding of language could be broken down into a set of phonetic rules. However, it was not until the 19th century that this approach gained recognition, thanks to the work of British scientist and researcher Nathaniel Bailey. Bailey compiled a list of English sounds, which he named "English Phonography." This list served as a basis for developing teaching methods to help children learn these sounds systematically, thus paving the way for modern phonics instruction. In the 20th century, the development of phonics instruction as we know it today can be credited to researchers like Jeanne Squire and Clara MacKay, who refined teaching methods to explicitly teach phonics skills using a systematic approach. These methods have been shown to be effective in helping children learn the alphabetic code and decipher sounds and words easier and more efficiently. Overall, "phonics" represents an important pedagogical approach to teaching children the basics of reading and writing, breaking down the alphabetic code into manageable, systematic components. It is a reflection of the broader concept of sound as an art form that can be taught and learned, with lasting benefits for language acquisition and literacy development.