Competence

Definition

Competence refers to an individual's innate knowledge of their language system, including the rules and structures that govern it. This concept is central to understanding how people acquire language and is distinct from performance, which involves the actual use of language in real-life situations. Competence represents the ideal speaker-listener's understanding of their language, encompassing grammar, syntax, and semantics, which is crucial for explaining first language acquisition.

5 Must Know Facts For Your Next Test

1. Competence is often contrasted with performance to highlight the difference between theoretical knowledge of language and its practical application.
2. Noam Chomsky introduced the term competence as part of his theories on generative grammar and language acquisition.
3. Competence encompasses knowledge of syntax, morphology, phonology, and semantics, forming the foundation for effective communication.
4. The concept of competence helps explain why children can create sentences they have never heard before, demonstrating their understanding of grammatical rules.
5. Linguists study competence to better understand how humans process and produce language, influencing fields like psycholinguistics and cognitive science.

Review Questions

• How does the concept of competence differentiate from performance in language acquisition?
  • Competence refers to an individual's theoretical understanding of their language system, encompassing grammatical rules and structures. In contrast, performance involves how these rules are actually applied in real-world situations. This distinction helps linguists analyze why individuals may produce errors in speech or writing while still possessing a complete understanding of their language's rules.
• Discuss the role of Universal Grammar in relation to the concept of competence in first language acquisition.
  • Universal Grammar posits that all humans are born with an inherent ability to acquire language, suggesting a common underlying structure across different languages. This idea complements the notion of competence by asserting that children's innate linguistic capabilities guide their understanding and mastery of their native language. Thus, competence can be seen as a manifestation of Universal Grammar at work in individual language learners.
• Evaluate how studying competence enhances our understanding of cognitive processes involved in first language acquisition.
  • Studying competence provides valuable insights into cognitive processes like pattern recognition and rule generalization that are fundamental to acquiring a language. By analyzing how individuals internalize linguistic rules without explicit instruction, researchers can better understand mechanisms like implicit learning and memory function in the context of language. This evaluation reveals not only how language systems are structured but also highlights the remarkable capabilities of the human brain in navigating complex linguistic environments.

Related terms

Performance:

Performance is the actual use of language in concrete situations, which can be influenced by social factors, memory limitations, and other variables that might affect how language is produced.

Universal Grammar:

Universal Grammar is a theory suggesting that the ability to acquire language is hard-wired into the brain, implying that all humans share a common linguistic structure regardless of the specific language they learn.

Input Hypothesis:

The Input Hypothesis posits that language learners acquire language best when they are exposed to input that is slightly above their current level of competence, promoting gradual learning and understanding.