A FEW WORDS ABOUT CONSTRACTIVE ANALYSIS: list of
the main contrastive features to keep in mind when
analyzing the behavior manner of both English and
Spanish.
ENGLISH PHLEGM
 Precision, accuracy and
economy in the use of
language
 Impersonal approach to
reality
 Facts are favoured to the
detriment of abstractions
 Caution to name agents
and avoidance of direct
appeal (stress on passive
voice)
 Objectivity as the
underlying feature
throughout
 Mercurial nature of the
morphology
 Maleability to transform
words and create
verbs(to e-mail, to yes, to
Visa)
 Nouns become adjectives,
or add a suffix or may
become a past participle
SPANISH PASSION
 Reality is perceived in
more abstract and
analytical terms
 Refined use of the
subjunctive mood
 Abundance of diminutive
and argumentative forms
(a more subjective use of
language)
 The canonical order s+v+o
is often altered
 The active voice
construction is favoured
 Subordination is
preferred to coordination
or juxtaposition
 Frequent digressions
from main chain of
thought
 Rather worded elaborate
constructions
 (salmon past,
gentlemanly behavior,
red –ribboned)
 Gerunds are versatile
 Verbs combine with
particles
Monosyllabic words abound
and make the language quite
agile

1 - mercurial
adjective
UK 
 /mɜːˈkjʊə.ri.əl/ US 
 /mɝːˈkjʊr.i.əl/
mercurial adjective (QUICK)
 
literary
changing suddenly and often:
a mercurial temperament
She was entertaining but unpredictable, with mercurial mood swings.
 Thesaurus: synonyms, antonyms, and examples
always becoming different
 changingWe must navigate changing attitudes about women in leadership.
 changeableBritish weather is notoriously changeable.
 variedHe has had a rich and varied career.
 fluidOur travel plans are fluid because of the train strike.
 dynamicThe Japanese economy is much more dynamic than our own.
 2 - malleability
noun [ U ]
UK 
 /ˌmæl.i.əˈbɪl.ə.ti/ 
US 
 /ˌmæl.i.əˈbɪl.ə.t̬ i/
 
the ability to be easily changed into a new shape:
The material's surprising malleability was previously unknown.
Gold has amazing physical properties, such as extreme malleability.
 
the fact of being easily influenced, trained, or controlled:
She writes about the limitations and malleability of human memory.
He proclaims the political malleability of the middle class.
Ver
malleable
 Más ejemplos
 Each substance in a composite should keep its original rigidity or
malleability.
 I love the malleability
of projection design as compared to sound or lighting design.
 Globalization has unveilied the malleability of national identities.

3 - canonical
adjective
UK 
 /kəˈnɒn.ɪ.kəl/ US 
 /kəˈnɑː.nɪ.kəl/
canonical adjective (IN RELIGION)
 
RELIGION   formal or specialized
related to a rule, principle, or law, especially in the Christian Church:
a canonical rule
 The Pope indicated that he would not consider any applications for
canonical pardon.
 Más ejemplos
 The canonical excommunication of
the bishops for their illegal ordinations was considered.
 The infallibility of the canonical scriptures rested on
the authority of councils and church tradition.
 The canonical implications are not clear.

4 - versatile
adjective
   approving
UK 
 /ˈvɜː.sə.taɪl/ 
US 
 /ˈvɝː.sə.t̬ əl/
 
C2
able to change easily from one activity to another or able to be used
for many different purposes:
He's a very versatile young actor who's as happy in highbrow dramas as
he is in TV comedies.
A leather jacket is a timeless and versatile garment that can be worn in
all seasons.
 Más ejemplos
 This jacket is very versatile - you can dress it up for the evening.
 He is a very versatile actor.
 We want all our staff to be versatile.
 This is a very versatile recipe - you can double the portions for a party.
 Teachers have to be versatile to cope with different ability levels.