What best describes the relationship between oral language and learning to read?

• A. The relationship is strong because oral language skills form the foundation for reading.
• B. Reading is independent of oral language skills.
• C. Oral language and reading are unrelated.
• D. Vocabulary alone determines reading success.

Answer: (A)

Oral language skills provide the foundation for reading. When children hear and use language, they develop phonological awareness—the ability to hear and manipulate sounds in words—which is essential for sounding out words. They also build vocabulary and general knowledge, which help with word recognition and reading comprehension. Grammar and sentence structure support understanding of how ideas fit together, aiding both decoding and text meaning. As this language base grows, children become better at retrieving word meanings, recognizing text patterns, and making sense of what they read, leading to stronger reading skills overall. Reading isn’t independent of oral language, and while vocabulary is important, it isn’t the sole determinant—decoding, syntax, and comprehension all rely on a broad foundation of oral language.