Discussion

Communicative strategy is defined in different ways:

1. CSs are strategies that a speaker uses to solve the communication
problems, which are caused by the lack of appropriate forms in the mental-
lexical. The speaker compensates either by going to the conceptual stage or
by trying out alternative linguistic formulations. – Poulisse (1989)
2. CS is a systematic attempt by the learner to express meaning by a target
language in which the suitable systematic target language rules have not
been formed. – Cohen (2004)
3. CSs are techniques of dealing with difficulties in communicating in an
imperfectly known second or foreign language. – Stern (1983)
4. CS is a systematic technique employed by a speaker to express his own idea
when faced with some difficulties. – Corder (1978)

Types of Communicative Strategy

Since engaging in conversation is also bound by implicit rules, Cohen(1990)
states that strategies must be used to start and maintain a conversation. Knowing
and applying grammar appropriately is one of the most basic strategies to maintain a
conversation. The following are some strategies that people use when
communicating:

1. Nomination uses statistics and valid facts to present important and relevant ideas.

A speaker carries out nomination to collaboratively and productively establish a

topic. Basically, when you employ this strategy, you try to open a topic with the
people you are talking to.
When beginning a topic in a conversation, especially if it does not arise from a
previous topic, you may start off with news inquiries and news announcements as
they promise extended talk. Most importantly, keep the conversational environment
open for opinions until the prior topic shuts down easily and initiates a smooth end.
This could efficiently signal the beginning of a new topic in the conversation.

2. Restriction constrains or restricts the Response of the other person involved in

the Communication Situation.

Restriction in communication refers to any limitation you may have as a speaker.

When communicating in the classroom, in a meeting, or while hanging out with your
friends, you are typically given specific instructions that you must follow. These
instructions confine you as a speaker and limit what you can say.
 For example, in your class, you might be asked by your teacher to brainstorm
on peer pressure or deliver a speech on digital natives. In these cases, you cannot
decide to talk about something else. On the other hand, conversing with your friends
during ordinary days can be far more casual than these examples. Just the same,
remember to always be on point and avoid sideswiping from the topic during the
conversation to avoid communication breakdown.

3. Turn-taking acknowledges the necessity of observing the fine art of conversation by

recognizing someone’s need to speak when it is his/her turns.

Sometimes people are given unequal opportunities to talk because others take
much time during the conversation. Turn-taking pertains to the process by which
people decide who takes the conversational floor. There is a code of behavior behind
establishing and sustaining a productive conversation, but the primary idea is to give
all communicators a chance to speak.
Remember to keep your words relevant and reasonably short enough to express
your views or feelings. Try to be polite even if you are trying to take the floor from
another speaker. Do not hog the conversation and talk incessantly without letting the
other party air out their own ideas. To acknowledge others, you may employ visual
signals like a nod, a look, or a step back, and you could accompany these signals with
spoken cues such as “What do you think?” or “You wanted to say something?”

4. Topic Control acknowledges the need of keeping the conversation active by asking
relevant questions and giving appropriate responses.

Topic control covers how procedural formality or informality affects the

development of topic in conversations. For example, in meetings, you may only have
a turn to speak after the chairperson directs you to do so. Contrast this with a
casual conversation with friends over lunch or coffee where you may take the
conversational floor anytime.
Remember that regardless of the formality of the context, topic control is
achieved cooperatively. This only means that when a topic is initiated, it should be
collectively developed by avoiding unnecessary interruptions and topic shifts. You
can make yourself actively involved in the conversation without overly dominating it
by using minimal responses like “Yes,” “Okay,” “Go on”; asking tag questions to
clarify information briefly like “You are excited, aren’t you?”, “It was unexpected,
wasn’t it?”; and even by laughing!

5. Topic Shifting sends comprehensive details and information regarding the topic to
address a certain communication breakdown.
 Topic shifting, as the name suggests, involves moving from one topic to another.
In other words, it is where one part of a conversation ends and where another
begins.
When shifting from one topic to another, you have to be very intuitive. Make
sure that the previous topic was nurtured enough to generate adequate views. You
may also use effective conversational transitions to indicate a shift like “By the way,”
“In addition to what you said,” “Which reminds me of,” and the like.

6. Repair introduces a new topic after a thorough interaction of the other topic.

Repair refers to how speakers address the problems in speaking, listening, and
comprehending that they may encounter in a conversation. For example, if
everybody in the conversation seems to talk at the same time, give way and
appreciate other’s initiative to set the conversation back to its topic.
Repair is the self-righting mechanism in any social interaction (Schegloff et al,
1977). If there is a problem in understanding the conversation, speakers will always
try to address and correct it. Although this is the case, always seek to initiate the
repair.

7. Termination is used to signal an end to a conversation.

Termination refers to the conversation participants’ close-initiating expressions

that end a topic in a conversation. Most of the time, the topic initiator takes
responsibility to signal the end of the discussion as well.
Although not all topics may have clear ends, try to signal the end of the topic
through concluding cues. You can do this by sharing what you learned from the
conversation. Aside from this, soliciting agreement from the other participants
usually completes the discussion of the topic meaningfully.