Communicative Competence vs. Functional Grammar

Attribute	Communicative Competence	Functional Grammar
Focus	Ability to use language effectively in communication	Focuses on the structure and function of language
Goal	Effective communication in real-life situations	Understanding how language works in context
Components	Grammatical, sociolinguistic, discourse, and strategic competence	Grammar, syntax, morphology, and semantics
Approach	Communicative approach to language learning	Focus on the structure of language

Introduction

Communicative competence and functional grammar are two important concepts in the field of linguistics. While they may seem similar at first glance, they actually have distinct attributes that set them apart. In this article, we will explore the key characteristics of communicative competence and functional grammar, and compare how they differ in terms of their focus and application.

Communicative Competence

Communicative competence refers to the ability to effectively communicate in a given language. It involves not only linguistic knowledge, but also the ability to use that knowledge in real-life situations. This concept was introduced by linguist Dell Hymes in the 1960s as a response to Chomsky's theory of competence, which focused solely on the grammatical aspects of language.

Communicative competence is often broken down into four components: grammatical competence, sociolinguistic competence, discourse competence, and strategic competence. Grammatical competence refers to knowledge of the rules of a language, while sociolinguistic competence involves understanding the social and cultural norms that govern language use.

Discourse competence is the ability to produce and interpret extended stretches of language, such as conversations or written texts. Finally, strategic competence refers to the ability to use communication strategies to overcome obstacles in communication, such as when a speaker does not know a particular word and needs to find a way to convey their meaning.

Functional Grammar

Functional grammar, on the other hand, is a linguistic theory that focuses on the functions of language rather than its structure. Developed by Michael Halliday in the 1960s, functional grammar posits that language is a system for making meaning, and that the structure of language reflects the functions it serves in communication.

Functional grammar is based on the idea that language is a resource for expressing meanings, and that different grammatical structures are used to achieve different communicative purposes. This approach emphasizes the relationship between form and function in language, and how language is used to create and interpret meaning in context.

Functional grammar categorizes language into three metafunctions: ideational, interpersonal, and textual. The ideational metafunction is concerned with the representation of experience and the expression of ideas, while the interpersonal metafunction focuses on the interaction between speakers and how language is used to negotiate social relationships.

Comparison

While communicative competence and functional grammar both deal with language use in context, they differ in their focus and approach. Communicative competence is more concerned with the ability to communicate effectively in real-life situations, while functional grammar is focused on how language is used to create meaning and achieve communicative purposes.

• Communicative competence emphasizes the social and cultural aspects of language use, while functional grammar focuses on the functions of language in communication.
• Communicative competence includes components such as sociolinguistic competence and strategic competence, which are not explicitly addressed in functional grammar.
• Functional grammar, on the other hand, provides a framework for analyzing how language is used to make meaning, and how different grammatical structures serve different communicative functions.

In conclusion, while communicative competence and functional grammar are both important concepts in linguistics, they have distinct attributes that set them apart. Communicative competence focuses on the ability to communicate effectively in real-life situations, while functional grammar emphasizes the functions of language in creating meaning and achieving communicative purposes.