FROM PHRASE MEMORISATION TO COMMUNICATIVE COMPETENCE: A GENRE-BASED MODEL FOR SMCP TRAINING

Abstract

The International Maritime Organization (IMO) introduced the Standard Marine Communication Phrases (SMCP) to standardise communication and enhance safety in multilingual maritime environments. Despite its institutional importance, empirical studies consistently demonstrate a divergence between prescribed SMCP structures and actual communicative practices during shipboard and VHF radio interactions. Seafarers frequently adapt, simplify, or reorganise standard phrases in response to operational constraints, suggesting that current instructional approaches may inadequately prepare learners for real-world communication demands. This paper addresses this gap by reconceptualising SMCP as a genre-based communicative practice rather than a fixed set of linguistic forms. Drawing on genre theory, communicative competence, and the transactional model of communication, the study proposes an integrated pedagogical framework that emphasises both structural awareness and strategic language use. The model outlines a series of pedagogical stages designed to develop learners’ ability to interpret, construct, and adapt SMCP in authentic maritime contexts. By shifting the focus from memorisation to communicative performance, this study contributes to the advancement of Maritime English pedagogy and offers practical implications for training institutions aiming to align language instruction with the realities of professional maritime communication.