Which term describes communication strategies such as asking for help, paraphrasing, avoidance?

• A. Sociolinguistic competence
• B. Strategic competence
• C. Descriptive grammar
• D. Pedagogic grammar

Answer: (B)

Strategic competence is the ability to manage interaction by using communication tactics to overcome gaps in knowledge or to repair misunderstandings. When you’re communicating and encounter a word you don’t know, a moment of confusion, or a topic that’s tough to handle, these strategies help keep the conversation moving. Asking for help signals you need clarification; paraphrasing your own message or asking the other person to paraphrase helps ensure you’ve understood correctly; avoidance can be a deliberate choice to sidestep a difficult topic and buy time or reduce risk. Together, these techniques let you negotiate meaning and maintain effective communication even when language limits get in the way.

Sociolinguistic competence would focus on using language appropriately for social context and culture, not specifically on strategies to repair or manage a conversation. Descriptive grammar and pedagogic grammar deal with describing language structure and teaching it, rather than the real-time tactics people use to communicate effectively.