Communicative

Competence
 MOTIVATION
Spell the following words being said by your teacher.
Write your answers on a scratch paper.
 What is a commnicative competence?
Communicative competence means knowing what to say, how to say
it and when to say it.

Communicative competence involves many different skills that enable

a person knows how to politely correct someone making a mistake,
how to greet someone, how to politely disagree with someone, and so
on.

Communicative competence comes in three aspects:

1. structural
2. lexical
3. sociocultural
 -STRUCTURAL ASPECT-
The STRUCTURAL aspect of competence involves knowing that
the form of utterance to be used such as pronunciation and
grammar.
In the English language, this means understanding the
differences between the similar sounding vowels.

beat, bit
neat, knit
feel, fill
but, bought
nut, not
full, fall
 -STRUCTURAL ASPECT-
Part of the structural aspect is the use of similar sounding
words

indigent - indigenous
endemic - epidemic
corps - corpse
 -STRUCTURAL ASPECT-
Part of the structural aspect is the use of similar sounding
idioms.

passed out - passed away

take down - take away

Give another example of words that may cause

miscommunication by its structural aspect.
 -LEXICAL ASPECT-
This communicative aspects concerns the proper understanding
and using words, phrases and idioms.

For example, tall and high are the same meaning.

Which one is incorrect?
She saw a high building
She saw a tall building
She saw a tall girl.
She saw a high girl.

the proper combination of words with other particular words is

called COLLOCATION.
 -LEXICAL ASPECT-
CONNOTATION - the ideas, feelings or images that produces in
a person’s mind.
A PERSON MUST BE FAMILIAR THROUGH EXPOSURE OF
THE LANGUAGE.
girl - when used to an adult female, it has the connotation or it
has a flirty tone. “That’s my girl.”
woman - has no negative connotation and can be used for
general reference for an adult female, but not for young female.
“A woman is suspected to be passing by the neighborhood when
the crime happened.”
lady- woman having a good dignity and good reputation.
“See that lady right there? She’s my hero.”
 -LEXICAL ASPECT-
IN USING PROPER IDIOMS - communicative competence also requires
proper idioms. the words “evening” and “night” have the same meaning in
itself but are different when put into an idiomatic expression.

FOR EXAMPLE:

Good evening - can be a form of a greeting

Good night - can be an expression that can be used for bidding goodbye to
someone.

NOTE: Knowing which idiom to use is best acquired by being exposed to

situations where to such idioms are used.
 -LEXICAL ASPECT-
IN USING PROPER IDIOMS - another important idiom in the English
language is the phrase “would you mind?”

FOR EXAMPLE:

It can be used to to ask someone to do something.

Would you mind taking the potted plants outside?

It can also be used in politely asking someone to refrain from their

behavior.
Would you mind lowering your voices? We have a baby sleeping right now.”

What are the things you will say when you are asked these kind of
demands?
 -LEXICAL ASPECT-
IN USING FIGURES OF SPEECH- figures of speech are the
ways which people use that is not a literal meaning.
It is a part of communicative competence to is understanding
the ways people use language.

These are the most commonly used figures of speech that is

often misunderstood by a lot of people: understatement,
hyperbole, and irony.
 -LEXICAL ASPECT-
IN USING FIGURES OF SPEECH

understatement: this is when a person says something less

than it actually is, that is an understatement.

take a look at this statement from the book “The Catcher In

The Rye” by J. Salinger.

“I have to have this operation... It isn’t very serious. I have this

little tumor on the brain”.
 -LEXICAL ASPECT-
IN USING FIGURES OF SPEECH

understatement: this is when a person says something than it

actually is, that is an understatement.

take a look at this statement from the book “The Catcher In

The Rye” by J. Salinger.

“I have to have this operation... It isn’t very serious. I have this

little tumor on the brain”.

Can you give another example of understatement?

 -LEXICAL ASPECT-
IN USING FIGURES OF SPEECH

hyperbole: it involves exaggerated expressions to produce

EMPHASIS.

EXAMPLE: I’ve been waiting for you for ages.

the literal meaning is nonsense because it is physically
impossible for a human to wait for long amount of time.

Can you give an example of hyperbole?

 -LEXICAL ASPECT-
IN USING FIGURES OF SPEECH

irony - a communicatively competent person must know if

someone is being ironic. It is saying the opposite of what you
mean.
EXAMPLE:
“It’s a fine situation you got us into. Now we’re trapped.”

Can you give an example of irony?

 -SOCIOCULTURAL ASPECT-
It is perhaps the the most important aspect of being
competent in communication is the social aspect - relating well
with people and even actions.

Gautama Buddha even cautioned people to be careful

“Whatever words we utter should be chosen with care for
people will hear them and be influenced by them for good and
ill”

The book of James in the Bible once said “the tongue is a fire”
What does these words mean?
 -SOCIOCULTURAL ASPECT-
A person who is competent in communication knows and uses
the proper forms used in specific language functions. He/she
must know how to use polite expressions and be aware of
impolite expressions related to language functions.

IN EXPRESSING ONE’S OPINION -

I think...
I believe...
In my (humble) opinion...
The way i see it....
 -SOCIOCULTURAL ASPECT-
INTERRUPTING A SPEAKER -
Excuse me...
May I interrupt you?
Pardon my asking...

In an online class, what polite words/action to be used in

interrupting someone to speak?

MAKING AND ACCEPTING APOLOGIES’

I’m sorry
I apologize for...
that’s nothing
 -SOCIOCULTURAL ASPECT-
ASKING FOR ADVICE
please advice me on how to...
Maybe you have some an advice on how to...
Please tell me how to...

GIVING ADVICE
I advice you to
You should.../ You may want to...

REJECTING AN ADVICE
Thanks, I’ll think about it
I’m not so sure...
 -SOCIOCULTURAL ASPECT-
ASKING FOR HELP
Please help me...
Could you help me...
Help me...

OFFERING HELP
May I help you?
How can I help?

ACCEPTING/REJECTING HELP
Yes, please. I’m okay.
Yes, thanks. It’s okay, no need to.
 -SOCIOCULTURAL ASPECT-
GIVING COMMENTS
You look good.
You did great.

RESPONDING TO COMMENTS
Thanks
Oh, that was nothing.(understatement)
 -SOCIOCULTURAL ASPECT-
What will you say if you encountered the following situation?
Telling a man that his fly is open
Telling a woman that her jean’s fly is open
Appreciating someone’s clothing
Telling someone that he or she is singing out of tune.
 SEATWORK
Answer the following questions. 1/2 crosswise
1. In your own words, what is communicative competence?
(5points)
2. Explain the following communicative competence discussed
(you may use examples) (15points)
structural
lexical
sociocultural
3. Why is communicative competence important? (5points)