Theoretical background for contrastive studies

Language proficiency is evaluated through communicative competences that encompass their components and patterns. They serve as equivalent items and patterns on which we base in second language learning and teaching, and translation. Language communicative competences are one of the starting points of a contrastive study. Their patterns and items work for tertium comparationis for comparison.

For a polyglot, language competences includes both his native language competences and foreign and/or language ones.

Learning and teaching second language follow definite approaches and linguistic theories. They can be structural, generative, functional, or cognitive. Sometimes they mix some or all of the approaches and theories. Contrastive studies follow one of the theories that is significant and suitable for learners and their native language.

The success of these comparisons is strictly dependent on the theory applied.

Contrastive linguistics started developing in the middle of XX century as an independent discipline within the field of applied linguistics to fulfil new needs arising in learning, teaching language and translation. Various other terms are used to refer to this same discipline, such as contrastive analysis, contrastive studies, parallel description or cross-linguistic studies. Although there are subtle differences between the terms, they are considered as synonyms. Contrastive linguistics can be defined as the systematic synchronic study of similarities and differences “in grammar, logic, and general analysis of experience” of two or more languages, carried out for theoretical or practical purposes.