Four Techniques to be a Competent Communicater

 Introduction

The ability to acquire language is an inborn faculty as said by Noam Chomsky. The taste for the language is there in our brain. But we have to sharp it through practice. Some people acquire too fast as some others have to take more time.

So some learners have to take more effort. More efforts and more practices lead to a competent communicator. Today let me discuss Five techniques that can help you to become a competent communicator

1. Increase the number of active vocabulary.

Everyone has their collection of words. Vocabulary can be divided into active and passive. Active vocabulary is the collection of words that can be used spontaneously in our day-to-day writing and speaking.  At the same time, passive vocabulary is passive, therefore we cannot use it spontaneously in our day-to-day life. But it is there in our brain, we are familiar with those words, we know the meaning also whenever listen and read. Here what I am saying is that you have to increase the number of words in active vocabulary by reading and listening to different materials. Continuous encounter with passive words helps you to increase the number of words in the active vocabulary. It will help you to become a competent communicator.

2. Adaptability.

Adapting to the environment is another technique. Understand norms, symbols, and practices in the society where you live. These factors have a significant role in the production of meaning. Their meaning varies based on society. For example, take greeting. Greeting varies based on society. In some countries or places shaking a hand is considered a form of greeting, we Indians use NAMASTE, some use hugging, some other countries use the kiss as a greeting. At the same time, many countries touching considered rude behaviour. It is part of their culture. Understand the society, understand their culture- norms, values, symbols, and practices- in the society. This is one of the basic requirements of becoming a competent communicator.

3. Avoid fear of mistakes or errors.

Most of us are afraid of mistakes. If you want to be a competent communicator, you have to remove your fear. Many of us are afraid of mistakes related to grammar, meaning, pronunciation, etc. Among these errors, most of us are more conscious of grammatical errors. It leads to your lack of confidence, and gradually you hesitate to use the language. The passing of information is important, the transaction is important and exchange is important. Once you start to communicate with limited words and expressions without fear, grammar and apt expressions should follow you. So avoid fear.

4. Select words based on the context.

The Context creates meaning. Certain words cannot be used in a certain context. If you unexpectedly meet the principal in your college corridor. How do you greet her?. Hi.. no. Then hello... no. Then Good Morning...yess. Why we don't use Hi or Hello to greet the principal. You can use 'hi' to friends, 'hello' to strangers. Don't use it indiscriminately here and there. Formal and informal words never use interchangeably. I do remember an incident from Vaikom Muhammad Basheer's "Pathummayuday Aadu". There is a character Abdulkhadar, a Malayalam teacher, brother of Basheer. He is a passionate teacher. One day he finished his class and came back home. After entering the kitchen, he asks his mother "MADAVE ALPAM SHUDHA JALAM THANNALUM". What happened you know?. Mom was preparing an evening snack. She came from there with thava and he got a beat. What it means is that we have to be more conscious about formal and informal language.

These are the four techniques to be a competent communicator. Hard work and continuous practice are the only solutions for language development. So work hard and be a competent communicator in your professional and academic life.