Which term describes the use of phonemes to process both spoken and written language?

The term that accurately describes the use of phonemes to process both spoken and written language is phonological processing. This concept encompasses the ability to recognize and manipulate the sounds in spoken words, as well as to connect these sounds to written symbols, which includes phonemic awareness as a subcategory. Phonological processing is vital for reading development because it allows individuals to decode written text by understanding its phonetic composition and translating it into sound, which is essential for both reading fluency and comprehension.

Phonological awareness refers broadly to the awareness of the sound structure of language and includes recognizing larger sound units like syllables, not just phonemes. Phonemic awareness, though crucial, focuses specifically on the smallest units of sound and does not encompass the broader processing needed for integrating these sounds with written text. Phonemic retrieval pertains to the ability to recall phonemes from memory, which is more specific than the processing of phonemes in both spoken and written contexts. Thus, phonological processing is the most comprehensive term that fits the description in the question.