Comparative linguistics compares languages to see how they are related. Contrastive linguistics looks at the differences to see how they could affect learning.
There wouldn't be much point in comparing them as they come from different families, but contrasting them could enable a better understanding of the difficulties learners face.
I am currently teaching a course of contrastive linguistics to a group of arabic speaking MA students. We found very interesting areas of contrast and comparison as well in all three areas of semantics, syntax and phonology. This hands on experience gave the students some insight into the problems faced by their learners ( of english as a second language)
Good evening everybody,
I'd like to specify the difference between Comparative & Contrastive linguistics .
It basically derives from the concept of TRANSFER by Lado
Whether there is +ve transfer between L1 and L2 , the 2 languages to be compared is easy to accomplish .
For example, we can find LEXICAL, MORPHOLOGICAL,PHONOLOGICAL,SYNTACTIC ,etc.,+ve transfer between Arabic and English .
The concept of definiteness exists in both English & Arabic ,
The boy ال_ ولد ( that's a +ve ttransfer ) , consequently , we can comare between the 2 languages from th concept of definiteness .However, the 2 languages are not the same in the pre-nominal modification through the determiner ( the-ال) . Therefore , we can easily contrast the position of the determiners in English & Arabic .
So I can say that English and Arabic are contrastive not compared as they came from two different families
Good evening,
Despite of being from 2 different language families, English & Arabic still have many things in common .such similarities could have the same functionality but they may positionally have some contrasts.
For example ,
English and Arabic have the concept of definiteness ( the ,ال ). they, however ,differ graphologically speaking,in the insertion of both.
The book الكتاب
The definite article 'the' is seperated from the head noun , while the definite article is prefixed with the head word " الكتاب"
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So I can say that English and Arabic are contrastive not compared as they came from two different families
Good evening,
Despite of being from 2 different language families, English & Arabic still have many things in common .such similarities could have the same functionality but they may positionally have some contrasts.
For example ,
English and Arabic have the concept of definiteness ( the ,ال ). they, however ,differ graphologically speaking,in the insertion of both.
The book الكتاب
The definite article 'the' is seperated from the head noun , while the definite article is prefixed with the head word " الكتاب"
Mohammed Said kamel EMAIL REMOVED - Send PM to This User Instead