Grammatical, sociolinguistic, discourse and strategic competence

Grammatical competence, sociolinguistic competence, discourse competence, and strategic competence are all components of communicative competence, which refers to the ability to use language effectively in real-world situations.
1. Grammatical competence: This refers to the knowledge of grammar, syntax, and morphology that allows a speaker to use language accurately and appropriately. It includes the ability to form sentences and convey meaning using correct grammatical structures.
2. Sociolinguistic competence: This refers to the knowledge of social and cultural conventions that influence language use. It includes understanding the appropriate use of language in different contexts, such as formal and informal situations, and understanding the impact of factors like gender, age, and power dynamics on language use.
3. Discourse competence: This refers to the ability to use language in longer stretches of discourse, such as conversations, presentations, and written texts. It includes the ability to organize ideas coherently and effectively, use appropriate discourse markers and connectives, and maintain coherence and cohesion in communication.
4. Strategic competence: This refers to the ability to use various strategies to compensate for gaps in linguistic knowledge or breakdowns in communication. It includes the ability to use paraphrasing, circumlocution, and other strategies to convey meaning, as well as the ability to repair communication breakdowns and negotiate meaning with others.
All of these competencies are important for effective communication in real-world situations, and language learners should aim to develop all four in order to achieve communicative competence.