Universidad técnica particular de loja la universidad Técnica Particular de Loja

Sociolinguistic competence
According to Bachman (1990) sociolinguistic competence is 
sensitivity to the context where language is used, ensuring that 
language is appropriate to the person or the situation. 
In addition, Holmes (2001) agrees when she says “the knowledge 
which underlies people’s ability to use language appropriately is known 
as their sociolinguistic competence”. For instance, both remark that the 
relation of language with the social environment where it develops is the 
field of study concerning with sociolinguistic competence. Finally, to 
expand this concept Bachman (1990) states that another part of 
sociolinguistic competence is the ability to interpret cultural references 
and figures of speech. For example and to clear this out, there are some 
expressions or figures of speech which wouldn’t be understood by people 
if they don’t have sociolinguistic competence. 

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Strategic competence
Bachman and Palmer (1996) see strategic competence as cognitive 
executive processes that govern language behavior. Although this 
concept may not seem clear enough to provide us with a clear definition 
it is remarkable to state that Bachman and Palmer (1996) expanded 
Canale & Swain ideas of the division of communicative competence in 
which they declare that strategic competence refers to a part of the 
ability to use the linguistic resources available in order to achieve one’s 
communicative goals (Canale & Swain, 1980a). Taking this into account 
and If we move towards the land of teaching and learning languages we 
might find that strategic competence comes into play both in L1 (first or 
native language) acquisition and in L2 (second language) acquisition or 
learning, irrespective of age.
In L1 circumstances this can be illustrated when children use 
already identified question words with an extended significance. With L2 
speakers it includes such things as over-generalizations, simplifications, 
a preference for a fixed word order, and avoidance strategies (Felix, 
1982: 63-64; Selinker, Swain & Dumas, 1975: 174-49). This concept 
enters weakly into the field of language interference which we’ll see later 
in detail. 

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