SIMILARITIES AND DIFFERENCES

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LADO: four key differences to analyze languages with:
Morphology, lexicology, syntax, distribution

HAUGEN: importance of “DISTRIBUTION”, meaning:

To understand that one word can mean many things in a different language, depending on the
context.
 DIFFERENCES IN DISTRIBUTION

1. The meaning and form stay the same, regardless of context.

2. Different form, same meaning.
3. Similar form, different meaning.
4. Different form, different meaning – does not need to be studied for obvious
reasons (and the infinite number of examples).
 PHONETIC/PHONOLOGIC DIFFERENCES

ONLY TWO DIFFERENCES:

– Similar phonemes but different allophones

– One language missing the phonemes

BUT:
– There are lots of smaller phonetic differences

– VERY hard to learn

– Just teach the characteristic differences
 GRAMMATICAL DIFFERENCES

1. Different word of function:

Elfoglalt vagyok ebben a pillanatban.
I'm busy at the moment.

2. Different word order:

Elég jó. / Good enough

3. Correlation of forms that are not the same:

Cannot be defined with English examples.

4. Role of word order vs. Intonation:

Szeretik a filmet. / Szeretik a filmet?
VS.
They like the film. / Do they like the film?

5. Role of word order vs. Function words:

Can not be defined with English examples.
 GRAMMATICAL DIFFERENCES

6. Word order vs. Suffix:

Levelet írok. (Suffix signifying object)
I'm writing a letter. (SVO order)

7. Function word vs. Suffix:

Szobámban. / In my room.

8. Differences in grammatical tools:

In English vs. Hungarian: the role of the definite/indefinite article:
Szeretem a kávét. (Generalization)
VS.
I like the coffee (A specific type/cup of coffee)

9. Differences in distribution:
Again, differences in the distribution of the article.
 LEXICAL DIFFERENCES

1. Similar form, similar meaning:

A rádióban hallottam. / I've heard it on the radio.

2. Similar form, different meaning:

See: false friends.

3. Different form, similar meaning:

HUN: Macska
ENG: Cat

4. Different form, different meaning:

This is mostly with expressions and idioms.
Földszint vs. First floor
 LEXICAL DIFFERENCES

5. Differences in structure:
Esténként sétálni. vs. To have a walk in the evening.

6. Similar primary meaning, different in context:

”Francia levél” is obvious in Hungarian.
”French letter” could be literal, or could mean ”condom”.

7. Similar meaning, differences due to geography:

HUN: Teherautó
GB: Lorry
US: Truck