kommunikatív

Kommunikatív is an adjective used in several European languages to denote something related to communication. In languages such as German, Swedish, Danish, Norwegian, and Hungarian, the form kommnikativ or kommunikatív is common. The word originates from the Latin communicare through the Germanic language family, with the suffix -ív forming an adjective in these languages.

In linguistics and language education, kommunikatív describes aspects of language use that focus on real communication. It is closely associated with the concept of communicative competence, which refers to the ability to convey and interpret messages in social contexts, and with the communicative approach to language teaching (often termed CLT), which emphasizes meaningful interaction, task-based learning, and authentic language use over rote grammar practice.

In practice, a kommunikatív teaching method incorporates activities such as pair work, information-gap tasks, simulations, and discussions that require students to negotiate meaning. Assessments in a kommunikatív framework typically emphasize functional ability to communicate in everyday situations rather than purely grammatical accuracy.

Beyond language teaching, the term can also appear in sociology, communication studies, or psychology to describe behaviors, methods, or systems oriented toward effective information exchange and interaction.

See also: communicative competence, communicative language teaching, CLT, information-gap tasks.