What does "decoding text" primarily refer to?

The concept of "decoding text" primarily pertains to the process of recognizing and associating printed words with sounds. This skill is essential in reading, as it involves translating written language into its spoken form. When individuals decode text, they identify letters and words and link them to their corresponding phonetic sounds, enabling them to understand and articulate the language effectively.

This ability is foundational for literacy, allowing readers to make sense of the written word and comprehend the material being read. In educational contexts, strong decoding skills help learners become proficient readers, as they are able to navigate and understand various texts more fluidly.

While the other options touch on aspects related to text, they do not specifically address the decoding process. Writing and editing documents focus more on the creation and refinement of text, while formatting for readability involves organizing the text's appearance rather than its phonetic interpretation. Translating languages deals with converting text from one language to another, which is a separate skill distinct from decoding.