Linguistic competences
Capabilities to understand, express and communicate meaning
The linguistic references refer to the group of capabilities that allow people understand and produce oral and written messages in an effective, adequate and contextualised manner. These competences make possible the functional use of language as a communicative, learning, social interactive and cultural participation tool, both for the mother tongue and other languages.
The linguistic competences do not limit to the grammatical knowledge of a lenguage, but also they integrate comprehension, expression, interaction and communicative adequation with respect to the context, proposal and interlocutors.
What do the linguistic competences include?
The linguistic competences cover several interrelated components that allow an efective use of the language:
Capacity of understanding messages, texts and oral and written speeches, identifying main ideas, relevant information and communicative intentions.
Oral and written comprehension Habilidad para producir mensajes claros, coherentes y estructurados, adaptados al contexto y a la finalidad comunicativa.
Linguistic correction and precision Adequate use of vocabulary, grammar and language's own structures, with an according level of correction with the communicative situation.
Contextual adaptation Capacity of adjusting register, tone and language style according to the context, channel and interlocutors.
Communicative interaction Ability to take part in communicative exchanges, respecting speaking turns, interpreting answers and building meaning in a shared way.
Linguistic and metalinguistic awareness Capacity of reflecting about language use, identifying mistakes and improve communicative competence gradually.
Importance of linguistic competences
The linguistic competences are fundamental because:
They allow effective communication in daily, academic and professional life.
They facilitate the learning of new knowledge and the access to information.
They favour social interaction and citizen participation.
They contribute to the development of thinking and the expression of ideas.
They reinforce personal and communicative autonomy.
An adequate linguistic domain improves the capacity of understanding the environment, the expression of opinions and the construction of social relations based on dialogue and mutual understanding.
Linguistic competences and professional environment
In the professional context, the linguistic competences are key for:
Understand instructions, documents and procedures.
Communicate clearly with teams, customers and users.
Write job reports, emails and documents.
Take part in meetings, negotiations and presentations.
Manage in multilingual and multicultural environments.
Therefore, these competences directly influence in employability, professional mobility and effective performance in several sectors.
Multilingualism and intercultural communication
In a society more and more globalised, the linguistic competences acquire an additional dimension linked to the learning of foreign languages and to intercultural communication. The knowledge and use of several languages extend learning, employment and social participation oportunities, and favours the comprehension between people of different culture.
A key competence for lifelong life and learning
The linguistic competences are developed and perfected throughout life through continuous use, practice and learning. They constitute an essential pillar of personal, social and professional development, since they allow people understand the world, express with clarity and participate actively in society through languqage.
Consult the Common European Framework of Reference for Languages (CEFRL)MCER)
