What is the definition of communication competence?

Communication competence refers to the ability to engage in effective and appropriate communication across different contexts, whether interpersonal, group, or public communication. This definition emphasizes two key components: effectiveness and appropriateness.

Effectiveness relates to achieving one's communicative goals, such as making oneself understood or engaging the audience. Appropriateness refers to adhering to the norms and expectations of a given situation or culture, ensuring that communication is respectful and relevant. In practice, this means being able to adjust your communication style based on the audience, context, and purpose of the interaction, thus demonstrating a nuanced understanding of various communication scenarios.

Other options focus more narrowly on specific aspects of communication, such as relationship-building, writing skills, or persuasion, which do not encompass the broad spectrum of what it means to communicate competently in diverse situations. Therefore, the comprehensive nature of communication competence is best captured by the ability to navigate both the effectiveness and appropriateness of communication interactions.