A Competence-Based Approach to Interpretation of a Language Sign by an Individual: The Search for a Term

Interpretation of a language sign by an individual in the framework of a competence-based approach is discussed, which is a novelty in the theoretical studies underlying the methodology of teaching a foreign / non-native language. The term ‘linguistic capability’ (the Russian equivalent for ‘linguistic competence’) is offered to indicate the ability of an individual to verbalize the mental content of a language and to interpret a language sign. As substitution of this term, the term ‘communicative competence’ is offered; comparative analysis of modern approaches to determining a communicative competence and a linguistic capability (‘linguistic competence’) is made, and the history of the terms’ formation in science is considered. The conclusions made in the study have allowed us to consider the linguistic capability as a linguistic component of communicative competence; i.e., they have confirmed our assumption that these notions are not equivalent, and that mutual substitution of these terms is not relevant. Keywords—linguistic capability (‘linguistic competence’), communicative competence, ability to interpret a language sign, a competence-based approach, teaching a foreign / non-native