Contrastive Linguistics

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The contrastive linguistics is a portion of the linguistics , in which two or more language systems are compared to describe similarities and differences. Contrastive studies can deal with different levels of language, e.g. B. Differences and similarities of several languages ​​in the sound inventory ( phonology ), in word formation ( morphology ) or in sentence structure ( syntax ). Other areas of work are contrastive pragmatics , contrastive text linguistics and contrastive sociolinguistics .

The aim of contrastive linguistics is initially a purely descriptive recording of the differences and similarities between language systems, but often important results for foreign language teaching arise through cooperation with other disciplines such as learning research.

terminology

In addition to the term “contrastive linguistics”, the terms “contrastive analysis”, “contrastive grammar”, “language comparison” and “comparative linguistics” can also be found. The term “confrontational linguistics” can also be found in publications from Poland and the GDR.

Differentiation from other sub-areas of linguistics

In contrast to language typology , which examines and classifies as many language systems as possible in terms of linguistic universals, contrastive linguistics focuses on a few languages. Often only two languages ​​are contrasted. In addition, contrastive linguistics is more interested in the detailed description and comparison of individual phenomena, less in the overview-like presentation such as the language typology. While language typology aims to typify languages ​​and contribute to the formation of linguistic theories, contrastive linguistics is application-oriented: Contrastive linguistics aims to gain knowledge through language comparison, which phenomena cause learning difficulties when learning a foreign language.

In contrast to comparative linguistics , which is diachronically oriented and aims to reveal relationships between different languages, contrastive linguistics is oriented towards synchronicity: the main interest lies in the comparison of current languages ​​and their linguistic phenomena without taking into account the linguistic history or relationships between languages.

Language contact research deals with linguistic phenomena that arise when speakers from two neighboring language communities come into contact and influence one another. Language contact research can be seen as a sub-area of ​​contrastive linguistics.

Research area

Basic assumptions

Contrastive linguistics is based on the following basic assumptions:

  • Every language has its specific characteristics. Similarities between languages ​​lead to positive effects in language learning (positive transfer). Differences between languages ​​can lead to errors ( interference ). So learners mainly have to master the differences between the mother tongue and the foreign language.
  • A detailed contrastive analysis of the languages ​​provides a collection of similarities and differences.
  • The contrastive analysis provides predictions for particularly difficult phenomena for learners and makes it possible to develop suitable teaching materials and techniques for foreign language teaching.

methodology

Languages ​​are confronted bilaterally (also multilaterally, mutually) or unilaterally (from one language to another) in a certain phenomenon (e.g. month names) and their similarities and differences are described.

The phenomena in the languages ​​can be convergent , divergent or equivalent .

History of science

Contrastive linguistics has its origins in the 1960s and 1970s as a new basis for more effective foreign language teaching. The starting point was the realization that a foreign language textbook that points out the differences and similarities between the foreign language and the learners' mother tongue is more effective. For this purpose, theoretical knowledge was first required, which contrastive linguistics should provide.

Contrastive linguistics soon came under fire for neglecting too many other factors besides the contrast between languages. When it comes to language acquisition, it also plays a role whether it is first, second or foreign language acquisition. Furthermore, language acquisition is also influenced by the age of the learner and his knowledge. Although there were some introductions to contrastive linguistics in the 1970s and 1980s, contrastive linguistics made little progress because very few comprehensive contrastive analyzes of different languages ​​were published. A small impulse for contrastive linguistics came from the 1990s onwards through the emergence of learner corpora and parallel corpora , which resulted in some contrastive studies. Since the 1990s one can also speak of a small revival of contrastive linguistics, which is also reflected in the founding of the magazine Languages ​​in Contrast in 1999.

From the 2000s onwards, contrastive analyzes of linguistic phenomena can also be found on the Internet.

literature

  • Marlis Hellinger, Ulrich Ammon (Eds.) Contrastive Sociolinguistics . Berlin: Mouton de Gruyter 1996, ISBN 978-3110149661 .
  • Ekkehard König, Volker Gast: Understanding English-German Contrasts , 3rd edition. Berlin: Erich Schmidt 2012, ISBN 978-3503137268 .
  • Kurt Rein: Introduction to Contrastive Linguistics. Darmstadt: Wissenschaftliche Buchgesellschaft 1983, ISBN 3-534-08303-2 .
  • Reinhard Sternemann (Ed.): Introduction to confrontational linguistics . Leipzig: Verlag Enzyklopädie 1983, 147 S., http://d-nb.info/840089414 .
  • Özlem Tekin: Basics of contrastive linguistics in theory and practice. Tübingen: Stauffenburg 2012, ISBN 978-3-86057-109-5 .
  • Joachim Theisen: Contrastive Linguistics: An Introduction. Tübingen: Narr 2016, ISBN 978-3-8233-8016-0 .

Web links

Wiktionary: Contrastive linguistics  - explanations of meanings, word origins, synonyms, translations

Individual evidence

  1. ↑ a b Marlis Hellinger: Contrastive grammar German / English. Tübingen: Niemeyer, p. 1.
  2. ^ Charles J. Fillmore: Remarks on Contrastive Pragmatics . In: Jacek Fisiak (Ed.): Contrastive Linguistics: Prospects and Problems . Mouton de Gruyter, Berlin 1984, ISBN 978-90-279-3260-0 , p. 119-141 .
  3. ^ Udo Fries: Textlinguistic Analysis of German and English Curricula Vitae . In: Dieter Kastovsky and Aleksander Stwedek (Eds.): Linguistics Across Historical and Geographical Boundaries . Mouton de Gruyter, Berlin 1986, ISBN 978-0-89925-180-6 , pp. 1203-1218 .
  4. ↑ Marlis Hellinger, Ulrich Ammon (Ed.): Contrastive Sociolinguistics . Mouton de Gruyter, Berlin 1996, ISBN 978-3-11-014966-1 .
  5. ^ Gerhard Nickel: Contrastive Linguistics . In: Hans Peter Althaus, Helmut Henne, Herbert Ernst Wiegand (eds.): Lexicon of German linguistics . 2nd Edition. Niemeyer, Tübingen 1980, ISBN 3-484-10391-4 , p. 633 .
  6. ↑ Marlis Hellinger: Contrastive grammar English / German . Niemeyer, Tübingen 1977, ISBN 3-484-40050-1 , p. 3 .
  7. ↑ Joachim Theisen: Contrastive Linguistics: An Introduction . Narr, Tübingen 2016, ISBN 978-3-8233-8016-0 , p. 12 .
  8. ↑ a b Marlis Hellinger: Contrastive grammar English / German . Niemeyer, Tübingen 1977, ISBN 3-484-40050-1 , p. 2 .
  9. ↑ Joachim Theisen: Contrastive Linguistics: An Introduction . Narr, Tübingen 2016, ISBN 978-3-8233-8016-0 , p. 42 .
  10. ↑ Joachim Theisen: Contrastive Linguistics: An Introduction . Narr, Tübingen 2016, ISBN 978-3-8233-8016-0 , p. 15 .
  11. ↑ Joachim Theisen: Contrastive Linguistics: An Introduction . Narr, Tübingen 2016, ISBN 978-3-8233-8016-0 , p. 55 .
  12. ↑ a b Ekkehard König, Volker Gast: Understanding English-German Contrasts . 3. Edition. Erich Schmidt Verlag, Berlin 2012, ISBN 978-3-503-13726-8 , p. 1 .
  13. ↑ Joachim Theisen: Contrastive Linguistics: An Introduction . Narr, Tübingen 2016, ISBN 978-3-8233-8016-0 , p. 30 .
  14. ↑ Ekkehart König, Volker Gast: Understanding English-German Contrasts . 3. Edition. Erich Schmidt Verlag, Berlin 2012, p. 1, 2, 7 .
  15. ↑ Markus Bieswanger: 2 abbrevi8 or not 2 abbrevi8: A Contrastive Analysis of Different Space- and Time-saving Strategies in English and German Text Messages . In: Simeon Floyd, Taryne Hallet, Sae Oshima, Aaron Shield (Eds.): Texas Linguistic Forum . tape 50 . Austin, Texas.
  16. ↑ Torsten Siever, Peter Schlobinski (Ed.): Microblogs Global. An international study on Twitter & Co. from the perspective of ten languages ​​and eleven countries . Peter Lang, Frankfurt 2013, ISBN 978-3-631-61436-5 .