Linguistic Competence
* Vocabulary: Understanding the meaning of words, including their nuances, connotations, and multiple definitions.
* Morphology: Recognizing and interpreting word parts (prefixes, suffixes, roots) to decipher unfamiliar words.
* Syntax: Comprehending the structure of sentences, including phrases, clauses, and sentence types.
* Semantics: Understanding the meaning of words and phrases in context, including figurative language.
* Phonology: Recognizing and processing sounds, including pronunciation and intonation.
* Grammar: Applying grammatical rules to interpret text, including tense, agreement, and punctuation.
Rhetorical Competence
* Purpose and Audience: Recognizing the author's purpose and intended audience, and how these elements influence the text.
* Text Structure: Understanding the organization of the text, including headings, paragraphs, and transitions.
* Appeals: Identifying and analyzing appeals to ethos (credibility), pathos (emotions), and logos (logic).
* Figurative Language: Recognizing and interpreting metaphors, similes, personification, and other figurative devices.
* Style and Tone: Analyzing the author's style, voice, and tone, and how these elements contribute to the overall message.
* Argumentation: Identifying claims, evidence, and reasoning in persuasive texts.
How These Competencies Interact in Reading
Think of linguistic competence as the foundation and rhetorical competence as the building blocks.
* Linguistic competence enables us to decode the literal meaning of words and sentences.
* Rhetorical competence allows us to understand the author's message, interpret the text's meaning beyond the literal level, and analyze the author's strategies.
Example
Imagine reading a news article about climate change.
* Linguistic competence: You understand the vocabulary related to climate change (e.g., greenhouse gases, carbon footprint), the structure of the article (e.g., introduction, body paragraphs, conclusion), and the grammar used.
* Rhetorical competence: You recognize the author's purpose (to inform and persuade), their audience (the general public), and their use of evidence (scientific data, expert opinions) to support their claims. You might also analyze the author's tone (serious, urgent) and how it contributes to the overall message.
Improving Competence
* Read Widely: Expose yourself to diverse texts, from fiction and poetry to news articles and academic essays.
* Actively Engage: Take notes, ask questions, and discuss readings with others.
* Develop Vocabulary: Learn new words regularly and practice using them in your writing and speaking.
* Analyze Text: Examine the structure, appeals, and language choices of different texts.
* Practice Writing: Writing helps you develop your own rhetorical skills and gain a deeper understanding of the process.
By honing both linguistic and rhetorical competence, you become a more effective and critical reader.