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Definition of fluency

  Tags: Fluency
 Language Learning Forum : General discussion (Topic Closed Topic Closed) Post Reply
39 messages over 5 pages: 1 2 3 4 5  Next >>
Cesare M.
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 Message 1 of 39
02 October 2010 at 12:45am | IP Logged 
I dont know about you guys but I define fluent as in this: knowing a lot of the language and/or being able to
converse about a variety of subjects in the language. Let me know what you think fluent is.
3 persons have voted this message useful



Volte
Tetraglot
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 Message 2 of 39
02 October 2010 at 12:55am | IP Logged 
I've just started a related thread on language competence.

Knowing a lot about the language is entirely different from fluency. Reading a reference grammar and retaining a fair amount of its contents will have you know a lot of a language, but you're likely to be unable to ask for a cup of coffee, discuss the weather, or otherwise use the language.

Being able to converse, fluidly, spontaneously, and interactively, about most/all subjects you can in your native language implies fluency.

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ellasevia
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 Message 3 of 39
02 October 2010 at 1:12am | IP Logged 
Everyone has their own individual definitions of what fluency means of course, but there are usually patterns to what fluent speaker of a language should be able to do. If you'd like a nice listing of some different levels of proficiency which is widely referenced around here, it's called the Common European Framework of Reference for Languages (or just CEFR).

I would usually say that basic fluency is around B2 on that scale and advanced fluency is around C1-C2. C2 is somewhat near the level of a native, but can vary a lot depending on the person and the language. For example, I have seen a couple users on here with English C2 certificates who I would still not consider as having near-native or even advanced fluency. Native fluency is usually considered to be higher than all of these levels.

Edited by ellasevia on 02 October 2010 at 2:10am

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fireflies
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 Message 4 of 39
02 October 2010 at 4:21am | IP Logged 
N/a

Edited by fireflies on 02 October 2010 at 9:02pm

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Iversen
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 Message 5 of 39
02 October 2010 at 9:26am | IP Logged 
fireflies wrote:
You should be able to make typical small talk too (not necessarily about rocket science or advanced anatomy and physiology).


I personally find discussions about rocket technology and advanced anatomy and physiology both easier and more entertaining than small talk. One reason is that the amount of 'international' (i.e. Latin, Greek and English) words is higher in the more technical areas.
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maydayayday
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 Message 6 of 39
02 October 2010 at 12:46pm | IP Logged 
Volte wrote:

Being able to converse, fluidly, spontaneously, and interactively, about most/all subjects you can in your native language ....


Well said. The number of times when on trips the conversation smalltalk moves towards football/soccer. Sport is a subject I can't even discuss in my own language!


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Cesare M.
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 Message 7 of 39
02 October 2010 at 1:24pm | IP Logged 
fireflies wrote:
I am not a professional linguist but I think
fluency (at its most basic level) is being able to get through a
day of being immersed in a language while understanding
what is said to you and being able to clearly (and flexibly)
respond with a minimum of errors. You should be able to make
typical small talk too (not necessarily about rocket science or
advanced anatomy and physiology).

It is worth pointing out that poorly educated native speakers
sometimes have terrible grammar and pronunciation. These
people are still considered fluent because they can
communicate clearly enough to be understood. Additionally,
illiterate people are still considered fluent.   

I never saw fluency (or even status as a native speaker) as the
complete mastery of a language. I see fluency as being able to
handle a linguistic situation so that you understand and are
understood. I see proficiency as handling a linguistic situation
with style and skill.


Yes finally someone agrees with me.  

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Volte
Tetraglot
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Switzerland
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 Message 8 of 39
02 October 2010 at 2:46pm | IP Logged 
Cesare M. wrote:
fireflies wrote:
I am not a professional linguist but I think
fluency (at its most basic level) is being able to get through a
day of being immersed in a language while understanding
what is said to you and being able to clearly (and flexibly)
respond with a minimum of errors
. You should be able to make
typical small talk too (not necessarily about rocket science or
advanced anatomy and physiology).

It is worth pointing out that poorly educated native speakers
sometimes have terrible grammar and pronunciation. These
people are still considered fluent because they can
communicate clearly enough to be understood. Additionally,
illiterate people are still considered fluent.   

I never saw fluency (or even status as a native speaker) as the
complete mastery of a language. I see fluency as being able to
handle a linguistic situation so that you understand and are
understood. I see proficiency as handling a linguistic situation
with style and skill.


Yes finally someone agrees with me.  


Not really. None of your languages, other than English, seem to have 'a minimum of errors' - based on the ones I can evaluate or have seen evaluations for, at least.

A solid start is to be commended. It also tends to imply making mistakes; this is natural, and not grounds for criticism. Claiming that a solid start is actually a significantly higher level tends to elicit more critical responses.

You clearly have a passion for languages. You have clearly learned some things. Accurately assessing where you are and indicating this accurately would probably be worth your time, though.



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