contrastive analysis
Cross-language structural comparison
Contrastive analysis is a method of studying two languages by systematically comparing their structures—sounds, grammar, vocabulary—to identify similarities and differences.
The approach assumes that differences between a learner's native language and target language predict where errors will occur: Contrastive analysis suggests Spanish speakers will struggle with English vowel distinctions.
The technique was influential in language teaching through the mid-20th century, though later research showed that not all predicted difficulties materialize and many actual errors arise from other sources.
- second language acquisitionProcess of gaining non-native fluency
- native languageFirst-acquired mode of speech
- cross-linguisticInvolving multiple languages
- error correctionFixing identified mistakes
- phonologyScience of language sounds
sound systems · morphology · fossilization · interlanguage · habit formation · learning strategies · teaching methods · interference patterns · false friends · syntax · word order · language proficiency · semantics · pragmatics · bilingual education · differences · grammar · language learning
- Language Acquisitionfirst language, second language, bilingualism, interlanguage, universal grammar
- linguistics methodsfieldwork, elicitation, transcription, dialectology, concordance
- language artsreading comprehension, grammar rules, vocabulary building, phonics, spelling bees
- language learningvocabulary lists, lessons, acquisition, basic vocabulary, grammar books
- linguisticslinguistics, phoneme, phonemes, morpheme, morphemes
- language transferinterference, interlanguage, calque, loan translation, literal translation
contrastive analysisperformance analysis
Evaluating how something functions