CA is: - an inductive investigative approach based on distinctive elements in a language or - the comparison of the linguistic systems of two languages, for example, the sound system or the grammatical system of these two languages - involves comparison of two (or more) languages or subsystems of languages (Cross- linguistic CA) - to determine both the differences and similarities between them - It could also be done within one language (Intra-linguistic CA) Intra-lingual: - Analysis of contrastive phonemes, e.g. /p/ & /b/ in English - Feature analysis of morphosyntactic categories E.g. forms of verbals as Subject, Objects, Complement - Analysis of morphemes having grammatical meaning, e.g. morphemes marking number, tense … - Analysis of word order, e.g. OSV, SVO … - Componential analysis of lexemes, e.g. Salary [+paid monthly] [+usu by cheque] Wage [+paid weekly] [+in cash] [+usu for manual or clerical work] - Analysis of lexical relations E.g. synonymy, antonymy, hyponymy Cross-linguistic CA - Comparative analysis of contrastive phonemes between 2 languages E.g. /p/ in English vs. Vietnamese - Comparative analysis of morphosyntactic systems E.g. Adjectives in English vs. Vietnamese - Comparative analysis of lexical semantics E.g. causative verbs in English vs. Vietnamese - Analysis of translational equivalence - Study of interference in foreign language learning E.g. How OSV order in Vietnamese may influence transfers into English Pedagogic view: Structuralism: - a finite structure of a given language that can be documented & compared with another language - structural linguists set about to identify the patterns of language - structural linguistic patterns: the set of habits that characterized a given language behaviourist theories: - language learning: habit formation & reinforced or impeded by existing habits + Errors: as result of interference in transfer L1 to L2 + Habits of MT differed from those of TL (Target Language) + Structure of TL differs from that of MT (Mother Tongue) Lado (1957): major objectives of CA are 1. Providing insights into similarities and differences between languages; 2. Explaining and predicting problems in second language learning; and 3. Developing course material for language teaching Theoretical CA & Applied CA CA is theoretical - the establishment of linguistic universals, and - increasing detailed knowledge of particular languages - look for the realization of a universal category X in both A and B (bilateral CA) - not investigate how a given category present in language A is presented in language B (unilateral) Applied CA attempted to • select information pertinent for the purpose (teaching, studies on bilingualism, translation, etc.) • unidirectional, investigating how a (universal) category realised in L1 in one way is rendered in L2 • identifying potential areas of difficulty due to interference. • emphasizing value of pointing out similarities in language teaching • preventing learner from attempting to construct forms which may ‘sound foreign’ (Fisiak 1981:3). See the full text here