Define "phonological awareness."

Phonological awareness is defined as the ability to recognize and manipulate larger sounds in spoken language, such as words, syllables, and onsets and rimes. This skill is crucial in the development of reading, as it lays the foundation for understanding how language works on a sound level. It includes tasks such as listening to and identifying rhymes, counting syllables in words, and segmenting sounds within words. This awareness enables learners to connect sounds with their corresponding letters, facilitating the process of decoding written text.

In contrast, the other options focus on skills that do not align with the concept of phonological awareness. Some mention reading without comprehension or assessing written words, neither of which pertains to the auditory manipulation of sounds in language. Others refer to memorization skills which are not directly related to understanding the phonological components of speech. Hence, the emphasis in phonological awareness is specifically on auditory sound manipulation rather than written language or mere memorization.