Evolving concepts and moving targets: Communicative competence and the mediation of communication

Marie-Madeleine Kenning

Research output: Contribution to journalArticle

6 Citations (Scopus)

Abstract

This article introduces a new dimension to the debate over the re-conceptualisation of communicative competence and its implications for language pedagogy. Approaching the issue from a technological rather than a socio-political perspective, it begins by tracing the marginalisation of technological matters in descriptions of communicative competence. Next, work on the effect of the media on communication is reviewed. This leads to the deconstruction of communication into a set of five variables that are examined in detail, together with their impact on participants. It is shown how variation along any one of the dimensions may affect the ability of less proficient language users to participate, and may cause variations along another. The article ends with a critical evaluation of the relevance of the framework to different contexts and some suggestions for further research.
Original languageEnglish
Pages (from-to)363-388
Number of pages26
JournalInternational Journal of Applied Linguistics
Volume16
Issue number3
DOIs
Publication statusPublished - Nov 2006

Cite this