Language competence and performance, what is the difference?

Language competence

Language competence is an ability or linguistic knowledge that helps a person to be able to distinguish correct and incorrect speech, writing and reading in a language.

Language performance

Language performance is a way an individual uses his or her linguistic knowledge in an actual context in a concrete or practical situation.

It is very important to note that the language competence is not necessarily evaluated by the language performance. A person might be very competent in a particular language but not able to perform it due to some reasons as mentioned below.

Reasons for why a person who is competent in language fail to perform

A language competent person may fail to perform it due to the following reasons:-

1. Fear : eg. Fast heart beat, rapid breathing and blood pressure.
2. Fatigue : eg. Exhaustion, tiredness physical or mentally, both body and mind weak to function etc.
3. Sickness : eg. Illness diseases both mentally and physically.
4. Drug abuse
5. Drunkenness
6. Mood swings : eg. Anger, boredom etc.

You can also read:

• 7 functions of language
  
• Characteristics of language
  
• What is language?