Documenti di Didattica
Documenti di Professioni
Documenti di Cultura
Contrastive analysis is the systematic study of a pair of languages with a view to identifying
their structural differences and similarities. Historically it has been used to establish language
genealogies.
Historical Linguistics: this is a former application of CA, which is subsumed under the name
of Comparative Linguistics, a branch in linguistics not to be confused with CA.
Second language teaching: Despite CA's limitation in the prediction of L2 learners' errors, it
provides insights to at least some of the major mistakes that are frequently made by L2
learners irrespective of their L1. Hence, more tailor-made language design can be adopted;
examples include awareness raising teaching method and hierarchical learning teaching
curriculum.
Second language learning: Awareness raising is the major contribution of CA in second
language learning. This includes CA's abilities to explain observed errors and to outline the
differences between two languages; upon language learners' realization of these aspects,
they can work to adopt a viable way to learn instead of rote learning, and correct fossilized
language errors.
Sociolinguistics, Psycholinguistics, Bilingualism, Pragmatics and others cultural-related
areas: CA is, in itself, a cross-linguistic/cross-cultural study, and its applicability on both
linguistics and non-linguistics features is one of its major merits. This permits a better
understanding linguistic-cultural understanding, which is essential for learning a language in
its entirety.
Translation: CA provides better understanding of linguistic difference between two
languages and therefore may be applied to the field of translation. Firstly, CA certainly lays a
foundation for translation as it is an integral element for interpreters to have a thorough
understanding of not only the two languages, but the differences between them. Also, it might
balance the word-for-word vs. sense-for sense debate by developing strategies to overcome
the linguistic hindrance. Moreover, it may avoid awkward translations such
as translationese and Europeanization.
Language Therapy: Distinguishing the difference between language disorder patients from
non-standard dialect speakers. This is essential in identifying speech pathology and their
corresponding treatment.
Criminal Investigation: CA research offers insight to subtle differences among languages.
Language patterns can be used as clues to investigate criminal activities, for example
analyzing phishing texts designed to deceive users into giving away confidential information.