COMPETENCE AND PERFORMANCE

MARLYN YULIANA SILVA VELÁSQUEZ

CORPORACIÓN UNIVERSITARIA DEL CARIBE-CECAR

LINGÜÍSTICA INGLESA

LICENCIATURA EN INGLÉS- SEMESTRE IV

AGUACHICA-2020

Author: Martha Lucía Bonilla

Revised and adapted by: Rubén Mauricio Muñoz
Corporación Universitaria del Caribe “CECAR”

Bachelor in Education in Teaching English as a Foreign Language Program

English Linguistics

First Assignment

Objective: To have a clear understanding of the

terms Competence & Performance based on

different authors and the relation to L2

Resource: “Competence and performance in

learning and teaching: theories and practices” by David Newby

“Competence and performance in learning and teaching: theories and practices” examines

the different ways in which both competence and performance have been defined by linguists

and how these different interpretations have influenced foreign language learning and

teaching. Read the article carefully and develop the answers in this workshop.

1. Chomsky’s states the “distinction between competence (the speaker-hearer's

knowledge of his language) and performance (the actual use of language in

concrete situations)” He further states that “Observed use of language cannot

constitute the actual subject matter of linguistics. (1Pt.)

a) Based on Chomsky definition about competence and performance, describe how

this competence could be clear evident in an L2 classroom. (You can give

examples.)

Author: Martha Lucía Bonilla

Revised and adapted by: Rubén Mauricio Muñoz
 b) Give reasons why performance cannot constitute matter of linguistics but

competence can? Cite at least an author

The reason is because performance occurs in real situations, and therefore is

subject to many non-linguistic influences. Example; the distractions or memory

limitations that lead to producing errors in the production of speech.

2. “We have to account for the fact that a normal child acquires knowledge of

sentences, not only as grammatical, but also as appropriate. He or she acquires

competence as to when to speak, when not, and as to what to talk about with

whom, when, where, in what manner (Hymes).” What does this sentence mean?

And how the idea does not necessarily show Chomsky’s idea about competence

and performance?(1Pt.)

This sentence means that since we are children, to speak correctly we need not

only to learn from linguistics, but also from context. This competence refers to the

fact that we must know how to say things properly in a given situation.

Hymes's idea is based on the social reality that underlies real behavior, while

Chomsky's idea is based on the mental reality of the underlying real behavior.

3. Halliday states “Can mean is a ‘realization of can do” this corresponds to the

second criticism of Chomsky’s view of competence and performance and also

concern the functional dimension of a language. Describe the second criticism and

the functional dimension.(1Pt)

4. Is language a unit of linguistic analysis? Explain and cite author(s). (1Pt)

No, according to Halliday, he says that “language does not consist of sentences,

but of text or speech”. This means that language is an option for speakers, speakers

make use of an efficient message where different structures interfere to form

Author: Martha Lucía Bonilla

Revised and adapted by: Rubén Mauricio Muñoz
 speeches or messages. According to Grice (1975) “refers that people also make use

of gestures or indirect speech acts as part of a speech”.

5. What does Chomsky say opposite to the affirmations on the left? (1Pt)

Langacker, Heine , Tomasello and Chomsky

Jackendoff
 language is not an autonomous

cognitive faculty

 grammar is conceptualization

 knowledge of language emerges

from language use

6. What are the schematic constructs? (1Pt)

Phrase, sentence, statement, clause, period, paragraph, order contextual.

7. In 1980 Canale and Swain provided a description of competence based on four

categories. What are those categories? Explain. (1Pt)

 Grammatical competence: It is responsible for the knowledge and ability

for proper expression. This competence is characterized by the

characteristics and rules of language such as vocabulary, pronunciation,

spelling, the correct formation of sentences and also semantics.

 Sociolinguistic competence: It is characterized in the production and

understanding of expressions in different sociolinguistic contexts,

depending on contextual factors.

 Discourse competence: This competence is responsible for compensating

communication difficulties due to insufficient competition.

 Strategic competence: Refers to the appropriate combination of

grammatical forms and meanings to form a unified text.

Author: Martha Lucía Bonilla

Revised and adapted by: Rubén Mauricio Muñoz
 8. After reading all the competences described in the CEFR what do you think CEFR

perception about competence and performance? Is it more related to social or

individual? Is it more linguistic? Or not? (1Pt)

Yes, the CEFR is more related to the social. And it's also more linguistic. The

CEFR considers that students, in addition to learning terms, rules, and new

vocabulary for communication, it is essential that students learn to use this

vocabulary for their interaction with society. It is important to participate in

actions of reality. Use the knowledge learned to put it into practice.

9. Write your own conclusions about competence and performance and how these

two terms affect the SLA? (2Pts.)

My conclusion is that competence is described as the unconscious and innate

knowledge of linguistic rules; it is mental knowledge of language because it allows

to produce and understand correct sentences. And performance describes the use

of observable language. In addition, performance determines how speech is

constructed and analyzed.

Referencias

Author: Martha Lucía Bonilla

Revised and adapted by: Rubén Mauricio Muñoz
Newby, D. (2011). Competence and performance in learning and teaching:

theories and practices. Pag. 1-18.

Lovon Cueva. ((S.F)). La competencia de Chomsky. Obtenido de Linguistica, lenguaje y

comunicación.: http://blog.pucp.edu.pe/blog/lenguaje/2012/01/28/la-competencia-de-

chomsky/

https://es.slideshare.net/marketing2009/conceptos-del-lenguaje-de-noam-chomsky-15798374

Author: Martha Lucía Bonilla

Revised and adapted by: Rubén Mauricio Muñoz