What does a consonant digraph create?

A consonant digraph consists of two consonant letters that come together to form a single sound that is distinct from the individual sounds of the two letters when pronounced separately. For example, in words like "sh" in "ship" or "ch" in "chair," the combination of the two letters creates one specific sound rather than blending or producing two separate sounds. This is crucial for early literacy development as it helps children understand letter combinations and their corresponding sounds, thereby enhancing their phonemic awareness and reading skills. This understanding of consonant digraphs is foundational for young readers as they begin to decode written language.