Riassunto esame Lingua e traduzione inglese, Prof. Pettini Silvia, libro consigliato Linking Worlds. Comparing english and italian, Laviosa

LINKING WOR(L)DS COMPARING ENGLISH AND ITALIAN CHAPTER 1: WHAT IS CONTRASTIVE LINGUISTICS? 1.1 Comparison as a tool for acquiring knowledge Nothing can be deeply known if not through comparison, which is a method used for a wide range of aims, for example linguistics compare stages of a language to investigate its historical evolution, national varieties of a language (British English-American English). Theoretical linguistics compare languages to identify language universals (what is common to all languages). Descriptive linguistics compare one language with another or more languages to describe the characteristics of the first one with accuracy. Applied linguistics compare a mixed language made up of elements of two languages with the languages that originated it to investigate problems related to communicative activities. 1.2 Scope and aims of contrastive linguistics Contrastive linguistics= discipline which compares two or more languages to identify and describe similarities and differences but also to identify challenging contrasts or potential difficulties in language learning and translation from a synchronic perspective (so as languages are in the present). Since languages are complex systems, they cannot be compared as wholes, but can be compared the levels of analysis of the language, so we have a common ground (or background of sameness, constant) where we observe asymmetries or similarities between the two systems, but CL is mostly focus on differences. 1.4 CL today At present, Cl is characterised by: -languages can be compared because they share abstract similarities under the surface differences -each language is deeply embedded in its culture, which is expressed through language, so when we compare language we compare also culture (= sum of beliefs, values, attitudes, knowledge and ways of life of a speech community) -aspects of language systems as well as languages are uses are compared -contrastive studies are carried out in connection with translation, description of languages and bilingual lexicography -contrastive studies …. 1.5 CL and other fields of research Contrastive analysis was originally aimed at a more efficient teaching of foreign languages, especially for those areas of difficulty in the learning process which involves the contrast between L1 and L2. During learning process we have two major phenomena: transfer (psychological process by which learners tend to transfer the characteristics of their mother tongue to the foreign language) and interference (influence exercised by the learner’s mother tongue). Interference can be positive when there is a similarity between specific areas of L1 and L2 or can be negative when learners believe that L2 is similar to their L1 in an area where it is different. In fact some of the errors found in the learners’ production in L2 are caused by L1 negative interference, and other are due to other causes. The information on contrasts between L1 and L2 can be employed in l