test Passing the border: Discovering the alphabetic principle|Preschool and Primary Education

Passing the border: Discovering the alphabetic principle

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Published: Nov 26, 2025
DOI: https://doi.org/10.12681/ppej.39716
Keywords:
alphabetic principle case study emergent/first literacy literacy events written products thick descriptions
Georgios Galanis
Πανεπιστήμιο Πατρών
Nektarios Stellakis
Abstract

The discovery of the alphabetic principle constitutes a turning point in the learning process of alphabetic languages (Verhoeven & Perfetti, 2021), an essential knowledge for the acquisition of written language during the emergence of literacy in preschool age (Vygotsky, 1978). This article attempts to record the language development of a child as it unfolds during the phase of his early literacy until the discovery of the alphabetic principle. It also seeks to highlight the social factors with the most significant influence during this process. The study was based on the targeted and in-depth analysis of data of a larger longitudinal case study, in the context of which we investigated written and spoken texts produced by a boy, Andreas, during literacy events that took place in his home environment, in combination with information obtained from interviews-discussions with his parents. The evolutionary course of Andreas’ language skills was presented adequately while, at the same time, through the utilization of thick descriptions, the great contributions of the family was highlighted, as was the important influence of kindergarten in revealing the mechanism of the alphabetic principle.

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