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kona · Joined: 17 Sep 2011 Posts: 188 Location: USA

I thought I'd make a poll out of this, but instead I'm just going to leave this question open ended: How does one define fluency in a language? What are the pre-requisites for having successfully acquired "fluency"?

I've always felt that fluency existed not as a black-and-white absolute, but as a type of continuum; that complete fluency is achieved when you have a more or less native like speaking ability with a language. The criteria for this may be:

-Native-like grammar use. I qualify grammar use with being native like because I think most native speakers of a language do not prescriptively follow grammar rules; especially in English, we tend to take shortcuts, and it changes traditional grammar conventions.

-Fluency and Automaticity: Using language in a fluid and smooth fashion. Very subjective here, but I guess the major descriptors would be speech that is not stilted and haulty, with few pauses.

-Accuracy: Being able to distinguish and say relevant phonemic components of speech in an intelligible manner.

-Pragmatics: Being able to understand the socio-cultural nuances of the language, and the different ways they manifest themselves in social situations.

What would you add to this list? What points would you contest? Where do you understand on the definition of "fluency", and how does that effect the language teaching environment?

rioux · Joined: 26 Apr 2012 Posts: 880

http://dictionary.reference.com/browse/fluency?s=t

flu�ent
adjective
1. spoken or written with ease: fluent French.
2. able to speak or write smoothly, easily, or readily: a fluent speaker; fluent in six languages.

This is how I determine if one is fluent:

I take an important situation where something has gone wrong or needs to be altered on more than one level and if the person can understand what I am saying and look for a way to properly resolve the situation that to me will suffice.

For example (1 among many):
When I have milked sent to my home I want to know if I can pay this months bill and next months bill at the same time because I will be away for the second half of next month.
I could also throw in .....please continue to deliver the milk to my front door but next month bring it to the back door.
etc etc

Another scenario could include re-booking a flight (including changing seats from aisle to window, etc).

Now I know even native speakers can mess this up but if the person in question can virtually always figure things like this out they are fluent in my book.

I should also point out that speed is also critical if I were to believe they were fluent. Some things in life need to be changed at that very moment. I'm sure some people could sit down for awhile and piece together all the information and just go through methodically what needs to be done. Life doesn't always work that slow paced.

joelackey92 · Joined: 28 Feb 2012 Posts: 18 Location: Arkansas, y'all.

I'd consider an individual fluent if they can engage in detailed conversation covering a broad range of topics.

LongShiKong · Joined: 28 May 2007 Posts: 1082 Location: China

rioux · Joined: 26 Apr 2012 Posts: 880

In definition 1 it reads "fluent in French". Now if one meets a person who is "fluent in French" it is understood that they can comprehend what is being conveyed to them in French.

In any event that is why added the last part you copied -> This is how I determine if one is fluent:

I then explained how it would be necessary for them to understand what I am saying in order to resolve the examples I had given.

choudoufu · Joined: 25 May 2010 Posts: 3325 Location: Mao-berry, PRC

are youse guyse missing the distinction between 'being fluent' in a
language and 'targeting fluency' in the classroom?

LongShiKong · Joined: 28 May 2007 Posts: 1082 Location: China

rioux · Joined: 26 Apr 2012 Posts: 880

Your example about rap music won't work just as equally if I put a Cajun from Louisiana in front of two different people and asked them to figure out what he/she is talking about in English. One may "get it" while the other may not.

This is why I wrote "I' in my example. I would consider them fluent under the scenarios I gave. If they could understand what I said and go about correcting the situation then to me they are fluent. This is my answer to the second question that was asked in the OP.
-> What are the pre-requisites for having successfully acquired "fluency"?

If we are going to throw age in the mix (10 years old) then I am sure that many 3 year olds (born in the USA to parents that were born in the USA and all with English as their first language) could not properly perform what I have asked.