Speech Competence and Speech Performance: A Literature Review

Abstract

This chapter provides readers with a brief understanding of the dual dimensions of speaking: speech competence and speech performance. It starts with a historical review of the conceptual development of the competence and performance construct. Speech competence and speech performance, as two key terms in this book, are later proposed and defined accordingly in order to examine the dual dimensions of CSL multilinguals’ speech ability/capacity. Two ensuing assessments (i.e., a Chinese speech competence test and a Chinese speech performance test) are justified for the present study. Finally, a CSL speech performance scale is established for raters’ reference.