So what does it mean to you? I guess for me it is the ability to talk quickly. I think this is a bit abnormal considering what most people use it to mean. I guess what I get out of that, though, is: Are we using this word properly? Do we need to? Should we use a better word?

For example, how would you describe the following two people?

Person 1:
Has a strong knowledge of grammar, structures and a large vocabulary, but can't speak quickly.

Person 2:
Has a weak knowledge of grammar, structures and a small vocabulary, but speaks at native level speed using what they have.

I would describe them both as skillful, but the first as knowledgeable and skillful, the second as skillful and fluent.

Personally, in my own learning being skillful is most important, just fluency (i.e., ability to form sentences quickly) is not enough - this would be a absolutely sacrilegious comment considering most people's usage of the word "fluency".

My personal desire is to be skillful, fluent, knowledgeable and indistinguishable from a native speaker in my speech and use of my body to create meaning (body language, mannerisms, gestures). This is probably a goal that will take years (4-5+) to achieve, but something I think is worth it. What about you?

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Fluency

Speech

Fluency is a speech language pathology term that means the smoothness or flow with which sounds, syllables, words and phrases are joined together when speaking quickly.[1]. Fluency disorders is used as a collective term for cluttering and stuttering. Both disorders have breaks in the fluidity of speech, and both have the fluency breakdown of repetition of parts of speech. Fluency disorders are most often complex in nature and they tend to occur more often in boys than in girls.[2]
[edit] Language fluency
Further information: Language proficiency

Language fluency is used informally to denote broadly a high level of language proficiency, most typically foreign language or another learned language, and more narrowly to denote fluid language use, as opposed to slow, halting use. In this narrow sense, fluency is necessary but not sufficient for language proficiency: fluent language users (particularly uneducated native speakers) may have narrow vocabularies, limited discourse strategies, and inaccurate word use. They may be illiterate, as well. Native language speakers are often incorrectly referred to as fluent.

In the sense of proficiency, "fluency" encompasses a number of related but separable skills:

* Reading: the ability to easily read and understand texts written in the language;[3]
* Writing: the ability to formulate written texts in the language;
* Comprehension: the ability to follow and understand speech in the language;
* Speaking: the ability to produce speech in the language and be understood by its speakers.

To some extent, these skills can be acquired separately. Generally, the later in life a learner approaches the study of a foreign language, the harder it is to acquire auditory comprehension and fluent speaking skills – however, the Critical Period Hypothesis as a limitation to language acquisition is a hotly debated topic. For instance, reading and writing skills in a foreign language can be acquired more easily after the primary language acquisition period of youth is over.

Hmmm... language proficiency/competency isn't so hard to say. I might try using that for a bit and see how it goes.

On a side topic:

By the way don't you think "fluency" is such an emotionally charged word. I feel pressured thinking about "fluency" because I start thinking about speaking and whether my ability is good enough - sort of. When I think about it "language proficiency" sort of sounds complicated enough that it's hard to think to deeply about it - that's a Tony Robbins moment "words have the power that we give them", or something like that.

"In the sense of proficiency, "fluency" encompasses a number of related but separable skills:

* Reading: the ability to easily read and understand texts written in the language;[3]
* Writing: the ability to formulate written texts in the language;
* Comprehension: the ability to follow and understand speech in the language;
* Speaking: the ability to produce speech in the language and be understood by its speakers."

This is pretty much how I see it, as separate skills and when they all reach a high level of proficiency. Then it equals a solids level of fluency in the complete language.