usage

[Luciana]

I'd like to know the difference between the terms use and usage (related to language). thanks.

[Mister Micawber]

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"USAGE and USE - Terms used by Widdowson (1978) to refer to two aspects of communicative performance:

a) the ability to produce correct sentences, or manifestations of the linguistic system = USAGE.

b) the ability to use the knowledge of the rules for effective communication = USE."

Basically, 'usage' is the theory and 'use' is the fact-- or at least, that's the way I consistently try to use these terms.

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