Speech community, style and speech events

Vladimir Ž. Jovanović

DISCOURSE
ANALYSIS
Lecture 5
Speech community, style and
speech events

,Language competence
 Language competence -
incorporates both a linguistic
(grammatical) and communicative
competence.
 In language, it is important not to be
only grammatically competent and
be able to produce grammatically
correct structures in a particular
code, but also it is very important to
be communicatively competent and
know how and when to use
particular structures.

,Language competence
Language segments may be
completely ungrammatical, but
appropriate for a particular context.
A: Where is John?
B: He sick.
A: No, no, no, he IS sick. I am sick, you
are sick, he is sick, we are sick…
B: Gee, must be epidemic.

, Language competence
Language segments may be
completely grammatical, but
inappropriate for a particular context.
A: Where is John?
B: All work in the vicinity of gas
pipelines must be approved by
Enbridge Gas.
A: ?