Competence and Performance vs. Langue and Parole

Attribute	Competence and Performance	Langue and Parole
Definition	Competence refers to the underlying knowledge and understanding of a language, while Performance refers to the actual use of the language in real-life situations.	Langue refers to the abstract system of language rules and structures, while Parole refers to the actual use of language by individuals in specific contexts.
Internal vs. External	Competence is internal and represents the speaker's knowledge of the language system. Performance is external and represents the speaker's actual language use.	Langue is internal and represents the language system itself. Parole is external and represents the actual language use by individuals.
Stability	Competence is considered relatively stable and does not change as frequently as Performance.	Langue is considered relatively stable and does not change as frequently as Parole.
Focus	Competence focuses on the knowledge of language rules and structures. Performance focuses on the application of these rules in real-life situations.	Langue focuses on the abstract system of language rules and structures. Parole focuses on the actual use of language by individuals.

Competence and Performance

Competence and performance are two key concepts in linguistics that help us understand the underlying knowledge of a language and how it is actually used in real-life situations. Competence refers to the speaker's implicit knowledge of the rules and structures of a language, while performance is the actual use of language in communication. Competence is more about the idealized knowledge of a language, while performance deals with the practical application of that knowledge.

Competence can be thought of as the grammar that a speaker knows, while performance is the actual speech or writing that the speaker produces. Competence is often seen as more stable and consistent, while performance can vary depending on factors such as context, audience, and the speaker's mental state. Competence is what allows speakers to understand and produce an infinite number of sentences in a language, while performance is what we see and hear in everyday communication.

While competence is often seen as more abstract and theoretical, performance is concrete and observable. Competence is what enables speakers to generate new sentences that they have never heard before, while performance is what we witness in conversations, speeches, and written texts. Both competence and performance are essential for a complete understanding of language and how it is used in practice.

Langue and Parole

Langue and parole are concepts introduced by the Swiss linguist Ferdinand de Saussure to distinguish between the underlying system of a language and its actual use by speakers. Langue refers to the abstract, idealized system of language that exists in the minds of speakers, while parole is the concrete, observable instances of language use in communication. Langue is more about the structure and rules of a language, while parole is about the actual speech acts that occur in real-life situations.

Langue can be thought of as the grammar and vocabulary of a language, while parole is the actual sentences and utterances that speakers produce. Langue is more stable and consistent, while parole can vary depending on factors such as context, audience, and the speaker's intentions. Langue is what enables speakers to understand the underlying structure of a language, while parole is what we see and hear in everyday interactions.

While langue is more abstract and theoretical, parole is concrete and observable. Langue is what allows speakers to generate new sentences and understand the meaning of words, while parole is what we witness in conversations, debates, and written texts. Both langue and parole are necessary for a comprehensive understanding of language and how it is used in practice.

Conclusion

In conclusion, competence and performance, as well as langue and parole, are essential concepts in linguistics that help us understand the underlying knowledge of a language and how it is actually used in real-life situations. Competence and langue are more about the idealized, abstract systems of language, while performance and parole deal with the concrete, observable instances of language use. Both sets of concepts are necessary for a complete understanding of language and how it functions in communication.