Communicative

competence
 01

This term was introduced by N.

Chomsky to define an ability to
fulfill some activity.

02

D. Hymes introduced the concept of

communicative competence as the
ability to use the target language
appropriately in a given social
encounter.
 03
M. Canale and M. Swain developed and
elaborated a model of communicative
competence.
04

Then Van Ek applied it to FL acquisition

and turned it into a fundamental concept
in the development of communicative
language teaching.
Competence is defined
as ability for
fulfillment some
activity with the help
of acquired knowledge,
skills and experience.
Communicative competence breaks
down into major components of
knowledge:

01
knowledge of the language

02
knowledge of how to use the
language.
In the current interpretation the
communicative competence
includes:
● linguistic;
● sociolinguistic
● discourse;
● strategic
● socio-cultural and social
competences
Linguistic competence

Chomsky defined linguistic This competence

competence as an idealized includes vocabulary,
understanding of the grammar, phonetic
grammar rules and and phonological,
construction of a given stylistic knowledge.
language.
 Sociolinguistic
competence
It refers to the ability to select
topics that are appropriate for a
communicative event. For
example, expressing strong views
about politics and religion over • choice of language
dinner is generally avoided. This
forms;
rule is also moderated
depending on the relationship
• setting;
between the guest and the host. • communication
partners and
intentions;
• appropriateness.
Discourse or pragmatic
competence

Discourse competence • ability to get past the

refers to the students’
capacity to interpret
individual messages
elements based on
their connectedness
and overall conception
of meaning from the
entire discourse or text.
language and
understand the
speaker's real
intentions (e.g.
indirect speech acts,
irony and sarcasm
Strategic competence,
an aspect of Communicative
communicative strategies are
competence, refers to
rephrasing, asking
the ability to overcome
difficulties when
for clarification,
communication etc.
breakdowns occur.
The concept of
"sociocultural
competence" involves
the ability to use specific
information about
nation, speech etiquette
knowledge and
communication
technology in order to
achieve mutual
understanding with
other culture bearers.
Social competence is defined as the
ability to handle social interactions
effectively. In other words, social
competence refers to getting along well
with others, being able to form and
maintain close relationships, and
responding in adaptive ways in social
settings. Given the complexity of social
interactions, social competence is the
product of a wide range of cognitive
abilities, emotional processes, behavioral
skills, social awareness, and personal
and cultural values related to
interpersonal relationships.
Within the communicative
competence the interactive
competence can be singled out
as an extremely important one
for communication. It is important
for learners to understand how
to manage social introductions,
how to complain, how to
apologize, if they are going to
achieve communicative
competence in the target
language.
● This competence includes at least three
sub-components:

01
Conversational competence

02
Action competence

03
Non-verbal/'paralinguistic
Conversational Action competence:
competence includes knowledge how to perform
dialogical genres: common speech acts and
1) how to open and speech act sets in the TL
close conversations; involving interactions such as
2) how to establish information exchange,
and change topics; interpersonal exchange,
3) how to get, hold expression of opinions and
and relinquish the feelings, problems
floor; (complaining, blaming,
4) how to interrupt; regretting, apologizing, etc.),
5) how to collaborate future scenarios (hopes,
and backchannel, etc goals, promises, predictions,
etc.).
Nonverbal competence
includes: 1) kinesics (body
language), non-verbal turn-
taking signals, backchannel
behaviors, gestures, affect
markers, eye contact;
2) proxemics (use of space
interlocutors);
3) haptic behavior (touching);

4) non-lingvistic utterances
with interactional import (e.g.
Ahhh, uh-oh, Huh) the rule of
silence and pauses.
Thank you for
your attention:)