California Teacher of English Learners (CTEL) Practice Exam 2025 – All-in-One Resource for Exam Success!

The term 'digraph' specifically relates to the combination of letters forming a single sound. In phonetics, a digraph consists of two letters that together represent one unique sound or phoneme. For example, in the English language, the combination of the letters "ch" in the word "chop" produces a distinct sound that is different from the individual sounds of "c" and "h." This characteristic of digraphs is fundamental in understanding how various letter combinations influence pronunciation, which aids in effective teaching strategies for English learners. Recognizing digraphs helps facilitate phonemic awareness, an essential component of reading instruction.

The other choices, while related to aspects of phonetics or linguistics, do not define digraphs specifically. Spelling patterns of words might involve digraphs but are broader in scope. Frequency of vowel usage pertains to phonology and linguistic analysis rather than to specific letter combinations. Variations in accent relate to phonetic sound changes across dialects and languages, making it a different area of study altogether.