【正确答案】The fundamental distinction between competence and performance is discussed by Chomsky in his Aspects of the Theory of Syntax. A language user's underlying knowledge about the system of rules is called his linguistic competence. And performance refers to the actual use of language in concrete situations (Chomsky, 165:3). According to Chomsky, the task of a linguist is to determine from the data of performance the underlying system of rules that has been mastered by the language user. Chomsky points out that this distinction is related to the langue—parole distinction of Saussure; but he does not accept the view of seeing langue as a mere systematic inventory of items. For him, competence is closer to the famous Gennan linguist Huxnboldt's conception, thai is, it should refer to the underlying competence as a system of generative processes.

【答案解析】[解析] 本题考查的是语言学中的重要区分之一，即乔姆斯基提出的语言能力与语言运用的区分。语言使用者关于规则系统的基础性知识被称为其语言能力。而语言运用是指具体操作情景中的语言实际运用。