对比语言学浅说

Introductory Remarks on Coutrastive Linguistics

一、什么是对比语言学 对比语言学(contrastive lingaistics)是把两种或更多的语言进行比较,旨在描述语言之间的近似和差异。对比语言学不同于历史比较语言学(comparative historicai lnguistics),历史比较语言学是要通过不同语言的比较来探究它们的历史渊源,发现它们的变化规律,并试图重新构造它们的原始语言(protolanguage)。

This paper consists of three parts. Part 1 discusses contrastive linguistics with reference to its distinctness from comparative historical linguistics and comparative typological linguistics. Part2 outlines the historical development of contrastive linguistics in the United States and Europe. In talking about contrastive linguistics in Europe, this paper lays more stress upon the methodology employed in a typical collective project. Part 3 puts forward four tasks that face us in the field of contrastive linguistics. As contrastive linguistics has been developing rapidly and becoming increasingly improtant, it is hoped that this paper may help to draw more attention to this branch of linguistics and promote its development in our country.