Initial sound table


An initial sound table is a table, list or chart which shows a letter together with a picture of the things whose word start with that letter. They are commonly used in German classrooms for language teaching. The first initial sound table was created in 1658 by John Amos Comenius in Orbis Pictus, a picture book intended for children. They were popularized in the German-speaking areas by Jürgen Reichen who used initial sound tables to assist students to recognise initial sounds and to get first reading and writing skills.
Alternative names: initial sound list, initial sound chart, initial sound alphabet, alphabet chart, alphabet picture chart

Writing to read

In the German-speaking countries, language experience is often based on children's writing of stories that involves invented spellings. The Swiss teacher Jürgen Reichen founded this "writing to read" method 1982. The method combines two basic features of in favour of "phonics". According to this approach children should be encouraged to "write
words as they pronounce them" with the help of an "initial sound list" of pictured words.
Constructing words in this way is supposed to help them to understand the basic relationship
between spoken and written language.
Johann Amos Comenius already added 1658 an initial-sound-table to his „Orbis sensualium pictus“.
Orbis pictus: Alphabet Orbis pictus: Alphabet

Initial sound keyboard

There are software for children which has a multimedial initial sound keyboard for text input. Several hardware keyboards for kids also have initial sound pictures on its keys. With initial sound stickers and a standard computer keyboard you can create your own initial sound keyboard.app0l

Initial sound examples

There are initial sounds, medial sounds and final sounds.
Initial sounds Initial sounds and initial sound pictures used in initial sound tables
Aalligator, anaconda, ant, apple, axe
Bbag, ball, banana, beater, bee, bed, bike, bird, boat, bud, bun, bus, butterfly
Ccamera, can, cap, carrot, cat, cloud, cob, cog, corn, cot, cup
Ddaisy, dart, deer, desk, dinosaur, dog, doll, donut, door, dragon, duck
Eeagle, earth, egg, elbow, elephant
Ffan, feather, fig, fin, fish, foot, fork, fox
Ggarage, gas, gears, goat, gorilla, guitar, gum
Hham, hammer, hand, hat, helicopter, hem, hen, hip, hoe, hog, house
Iigloo, Indian, iguana, insect, invitation impala,
Jjacks, jam, jeans, jeep, jet, jug, juggle, jump
Kkangaroo, keg, key, kid, king, kitchen, kite, kiwi, knight, koala
Lladder, leg, lemon, lid, light, lion, lips, lobster, log
Mmad, map, mail, maracas, men, moose, moon, mop, mouse, mud
Nnose, net, nail, needle, nest, newspaper, nine, nose, numbers, nut
Oofficer, orange, owl
Ppan, peg, pen, pig, pin, pineapple, pod, post, pup
Qquail, quarter, queen, quilt
Rrabbit, radio, rag, rainbow, rake, rat, red, rib, rocket, rod, rose, rug
Ssailboat, saw, sod, sea, seal, seven, six, star, submarine, sun
Ttag, tambourine, tan, telephone, ten, tent, tiger, tin, tomato, top, tower, train, tub
Uunicorn, uniform,
Vvase, video, violin, volcano, valentine
Wwagon, water, web, wig, windmill
XXmas, xylograph, xylophone
Yyak, yarn, yoyo, yam
Zzebra, zebra, zero, zipper, zither

Initial sounds Initial sounds and initial sound pictures used in initial sound tables
BLblack, blend, block, blond, bluff
BRbrad, bran, brig, brim, brush
CLclap, clam, cliff, clock, clubs
CRcrab, crack, crash, crest, cross
DRdress, drop, drill, drink, drums
FLflab, flag, flat, floss, flush
FRfrills, frock, frog, frost, froth
GLglad, glass, glen, gloss, glum
GRgrab, grand, grass, grill, grin
PLplans, plant, plug, plums, plus
PRpram, press, primps, print, prop
SCscab, scald, scallop, scalp, scallop
SHshell, ship, shirt, shoe, shop, shovel
SKskip, skull, skip, skin, skill
SLslam, slosh, slot, slug, slush
SMsmog, smash, small, smell, smug
SNsnack, snap, snag, snip, sniffs
SPspill, spin, spell, spend, spot
STstop, stump, stand, stamp, stuck
SWswift, swig, swim, swan, swamp
TRtrick, trim, trunk, tram, track
TWtwins, twig, twist, twill, twang