2.2.2.

The Acquisition of Communicative Competence

The second problem mentioned which can be used to develop the communicative
competence, there are three theories proposed to develop communicative competence in the
learners, i.e. the behaviorist, nativist, and interactionist approaches.
1.

The Behaviorist Approach

This approach is based on the assumption developed by the stimulus-response theory.

Language is a set of habits with two characteristics, that is observable and automatic. The
automatically is obtained through drills and practice. The drill and practice are seen as the
stimulus while the speakers utterance is seen as a response which is strengthened with
reinforcement.
According to the behaviorists, practice is meant to transfer language skills, since skill can
be transferred from one language to another, when on the other hand, they differ. Then difficulty
or interference will occur which takes the form of languages errors. According to Lado in Huda
(1999) techniques were developed to estimate errors made as a result of habit transfers. These
techniques were called contrastive analysis.
2.

The Nativist Approach

This approach argues that language competence is not developed by external factors,

rather by factors found within the learner. Every individual is born with what is called a language
acquisition device (LAD).
The concept of LAD developed by Chomsky in Huda (1999) several other theories then
emerged, such as Krashens and Bialystoks in Huda (1999) monitor theory one considerable
contribution to the studies of the second language acquisition is the distinction between implicit
and explicit linguistic knowledge also termed acquisition is the knowledge of language systems
obtained in a formal ways through formal learning. the implicit knowledge is the main source of
the communicative competence.
3.

The Interactionist Approach

The interactionist approach sees language acquisition as the result of the combined works

of the internal factors (inherent within the learner) and input. According to Ellis in Huda (1999)
the development of communicative competence is the combined result of the learners effort and
his speaking partner in the form of an interaction between the two parties.
Acquisition only occurs when the input received by the learners is comprehensible.
According Krashen in Huda (1999) the meaning can be made comprehensible with the help of
context, world knowledge, and linguistic competence the learners.