THE ASPECTS OF LINGUISTIC COMPETENCE AMONG POLICE OFFICERS IN LITHUANIA AND SLOVAKIA

Abstract

A linguistic competence is considered to be a measure of functional knowledge of the language. The authors have an opinion that any kind of communicative activity should be treated as a part of a wider approach towards linguistic competence. It means that linguistic competence is determined by the quality of regular language as well as by the speaker’s internal culture. The concept of competence is described as a combination of the following elements: knowledge, skills, values and personal qualities. The purpose of this study is to reveal the characteristics of linguistic competence of the police officers, and their linguistic competence experience. The objectives of this article were to analyse the role of language in the human communication process, linguistic competence and its expression in police work, as well as to compare linguistic competences of the Lithuanian and Slovak police officers. The role of language in communication process has been reviewed by analysing the concept of communication, the main component of communicative competence – language (linguistic) competence. The analysis part of the article involves presentation of the methodology and results of the survey on the Lithuanian and Slovak police officers’ approach towards the linguistic competence. Based on the analysis of the survey, confidence and positive evaluation of the police officers’ language knowledge have been defined. Police officers were found to be interested in a regular and ethical language and its use. Police officers recognized that familiar, impolite and irregular communication affects the public image of the police. The results showed that respondents possessed a positive approach towards their existing linguistic competence. Furthermore, the survey revealed that police officers appreciate knowledge and skills of communication in foreign languages.