Final answer:
The written representation of a speech sound is indeed known as a grapheme. This is a fundamental concept in understanding the relationship between written language and speech sounds, essential in the study of phonics and linguistics.
Step-by-step explanation:
The statement that the written representation of a speech sound is known as a grapheme is true. A grapheme is a letter or group of letters that represent a single phoneme, which is the smallest unit of sound. For example, in English, the sound of long e can be represented by various digraphs such as , , and . When a single letter like the letter represents different sounds, as in 'gem' ([j]) and 'gum' ([g]), its pronunciation depends on the context, denoting it as either soft or hard .
Furthermore, in language, we use letters to create words which are part of a semiotic system. Languages like English use a fixed alphabet of twenty-six letters which work in combination to create a rich vocabulary, whereas logographic systems like Mandarin Chinese use a large number of characters to represent words and meanings, and inflection or tone can change the meaning. Understanding the relationship between letters and sounds is crucial in written communication.