Discursive competence: what is it?

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Discourse competence refers to the ability to communicate in a given language, including text proficiency and effective rhetorical or discursive competence. Experts study how individuals process verbal sentences and idiomatic expressions, and note the element of timeliness in assessing speaking skills.

Speaking competence is generally a term that refers to the ability to understand and express oneself in a given language. Experts point out that there are different varieties of discursive competence that measure different aspects of communication. An examination of this topic shows how well an individual can communicate in a given context. The word “discourse” is generic and includes conversations and other types of communication involving multiple parties.

One type of speech proficiency is often called text proficiency. This is basically a measure of how well an individual can read different texts and understand them. Different types of text include fiction and non-fiction, storytelling, instructional guides, and other types of written communications, such as transcripts of recorded conversations or technical materials. The better readers can understand these texts, the greater their proficiency in textual discourse.

Another very common type of discourse competence is effective rhetorical or discursive competence. This is often defined as how well an individual can contribute to a conversation. This type of speech ability, or proficiency, also includes multiple components. One is how well the individual can understand what is being said by a series of speakers. Another is how well the individual can interpose their opinions and how well that person can express ideas to an audience within an overall scenario.

There are many different components of overall discursive competence. For example, those looking into this type of skill or competence might study how individuals process many different verbal sentences or ideas, such as those that herald narratives, those that express specific emotions or feelings, or any other range of idiomatic or slang expressions. phrases that are frequently used in a given language. When measuring speaking proficiency in real time, it can be helpful to note whether an individual struggles with a specific type of sentence or idiom.

Many experts argue that there is also an element of timeliness in assessing speaking skills or proficiency levels. Those at the top of the ability spectrum are able to express themselves quickly and effectively, which helps them inject their ideas into continuous speech. Others may struggle with these tasks and be placed lower on a conversational speech proficiency scale. All of this helps linguists and other experts study how people develop language skills over time or evaluate the progress of a particular student or other individual.




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