Communicative Strategies in Language Learning

Introduction to Communicative Strategies

• Communicative strategies are the techniques used by language learners to overcome communication difficulties when they encounter linguistic problems.
• These strategies are employed when learners encounter an obstacle in the communication process, such as encountering unknown or difficult vocabulary, grammatical structures they cannot produce, or pronunciation challenges.

Types of Communicative Strategies

• Lexical strategies: These strategies focus on vocabulary and its use in conveying meaning.

  • Circumlocution: Explaining a concept or word without using the target word, for example, describing an elephant rather than saying "elephant".
  • Paraphrasing: Rewording a message to make it clearer.
  • Using synonyms or near synonyms: Substituting similar words for a target word.
  • Using a general word: Substituting a general term for a specific term.
  • Using examples: Providing specific cases to illustrate a concept.
  • Using code-switching: Interchanging between two or more languages to bypass a lexical gap.
  • Word coinage: Creating new words to represent unknown meanings.
  • Loans: Borrowing words directly from another language.

• Grammatical strategies: These strategies relate to the structure of language.

  • Using basic sentence structure: Employing simple sentence structures to convey meaning.
  • Omitting grammatical elements: Leaving out elements of grammar.
  • Using substitutes for grammatical items: Using alternative structures for grammatical features.

• Discourse strategies: These strategies focus on the flow and structure of communication.

  • Using topic management: Managing the change of topics so the communication flows smoothly.
  • Asking questions: Using questions to clarify understanding and gain information or guide the speaker.
  • Responding to questions: Using questions to stimulate further communication.
  • Re-structuring or re-ordering turns: Changing the order of communication.
  • Asking for clarification: Asking for rephrasing.
  • Using visual aids: Using gestures or visual support.
  • Using gestures or other non-linguistic means: Using gestures, facial expressions or body language.
  • Using fillers: Using fillers or pauses to create time and plan.

• Sociolinguistic strategies: These strategies reflect cultural and social awareness.

  • Negotiating meaning: Working with others to clarify misunderstandings and build consensus.
  • Using contextual clues: Using context, tone, and social cues to interpret messages.
  • Making use of paralinguistic devices: Using emphasis, tone, and stress to create meaning.

Factors influencing the use of strategies

• Learners' proficiency level: Less advanced learners might rely more on simpler strategies.
• Learners' learning styles: Visual, auditory, and kinesthetic learners will use different strategies.
• The communicative task: Strategies may be chosen specifically for the communicative goal (e.g., requesting information, expressing opinion).
• The nature of the interlocutors: Communication with native speakers may require different strategies.
• The learners' personality or motivation: A strong and confident learner might use more complex strategies.
• The interaction setting (e.g., formal or informal): Interactions in formal settings will use different strategies than an informal one.

Effectiveness of Communication Strategies

• The usefulness of communicative strategies varies depending on the context.
• Highly complex strategies can improve fluency and comprehension, while others may only temporarily resolve a communication problem.
• Effective strategies allow learners to circumvent problems and communicate successfully.

Implications for Language Teaching

• Teachers can help learners develop various strategies in the classroom through communicative activities that necessitate negotiation of meaning.
• Implementing tasks that encourage problem-solving, turn-taking, question-asking, and clarification seeking supports language development through these strategies.
• By raising awareness and encouraging language learners to apply different kinds of communicative strategies, language teachers can better equip them with tools for overcoming communication hurdles and fostering overall language competency.