Functional approach to communication strategies: An analysis of language learners’ performance in interactional discourse

This paper investigates the pattern of oral communication among a group of language learners to discover how they use their second language (L2) to ‘construct’ interpersonal communication inside an EFL (English as Foreign Language) context, particularly when they encounter a problem. The effective use of a target language to construct interpersonal communication in situations where there is communicative deficiency involves the effective use of communication strategies (hereafter CSs). Adopting a qualitative research approach, I collected data from a series of group discussions and recall interviews with a group of Persian learners of English Literature and Translation. Analysing audio recorded data, this paper provides a descriptive account of the functions of CSs used by participants in problematic moments of L2 oral communication in an EFL context. As the research progressed, however, it became increasingly clear that while the transactional function of CSs is assumed and had been assumed for all types of CSs in the L2 oral communication, it was only relevant and applicable to a small proportion of the strategies used by the participants in this research. In fact, they employed a variety of strategies with different functions for the problematic moments of communication.

► This study provides a classification of functions of communication strategies (CSs) used in a foreign language setting.
► L2 language users employ CSs to get the meaning across, as they struggle to resolve meaning breakdowns.
► Even when meaning is unproblematic, CSs are employed to promote the accuracy level of target language.
► L2 language users also employ CSs to establish, maintain and develop successful interpersonal communication with other language users of the target language.