Question

Which of the following statements is true regarding competence and performance?

• A. Competence is influenced by external factors, while performance is purely mental
• B. Performance is free from errors, whereas competence is not
• C. Competence is stable and internal, while performance is variable and affected by context
• D. Competence is acquired through social interaction, while performance is inborn

Answer 1

Answer:

C. Competence is stable and internal, while performance is variable and affected by context

Here are some true statements regarding competence and performance in linguistics:

1. Competence refers to a speaker’s implicit knowledge of a language, while performance refers to the actual use of language in real situations.

2. Competence is stable and abstract, whereas performance is variable and influenced by factors such as memory limitations, distractions, and emotions.

3. Noam Chomsky introduced the competence-performance distinction in his theory of generative grammar.

4. Competence includes knowledge of syntax, phonology, morphology, and semantics, but performance may show errors due to processing constraints.

5. Performance errors (such as slips of the tongue or hesitations) do not indicate a lack of competence, as they result from external factors rather than a deficiency in linguistic knowledge.

6. Competence is idealized and shared by all native speakers, while performance varies from person to person and situation to situation.