중국에서의 대조언어학의 특징과 발전 추세 = Features and Trends of Contrastive Linguistics in China Shanghai International Studies University

다국어 초록 (Multilingual Abstract)

Contrastive linguistics can be defined as a sub-branch of linguistics that explores universality and discrepancy through contrastive studies of two or more languages. Recently, as an emerging discipline in linguistic studies, contrastive linguistics in China is gaining an increasing significance. Particularly, in the field of foreign language education, it is one of the most important theories and methods that gains unprecedented popularity. However, so far there is no consensus among researchers about fundamental issues such as the nature of language, research methodologies and objectives, …etc. Firstly, some scholars insist on directing at the narrow-sense applied linguistics on a traditional Contrastive Analysis basis; others turn to a broader-sense direction that features the application of comparative methods. The former has features of synchronity, descriptivity, discrepancy and applicability while the latter has interdisciplinary features, combining synchronity and diachronity, descriptivity and explanatoriness, theories and application. In recent trend, compared with the contrastive studies for foreign language education in a narrow sense, interdisciplinary research in a broader sense has become the mainstream research paradigm. Contrastive research in a broader sense has two orientations. One is called “linguistic outlook orientation”, the other “linguistic typology orientation”. The former defines contrastive linguistics as a discipline that explores linguistic outlook on a philosophical basis, i.e. a discipline that studying similarities and differences of different races’ concepts, meaning systems, value systems and ways of thinking. It claims that the ultimate goal is to facilitate the development of general linguistics so as to promote communication and understanding between different cultures and civilizations. The latter holds that linguistic typology provides a fundamental theoretical framework for contrastive linguistics (theoretical contrastive linguistics), arguing that contrastive linguistics should contribute to probing into the universality (in particular, the connotative universality) of human languages. Based on generalizing features of contrastive studies in China, this paper analyzes the current status and the existing problems in contrastive research and inquiries into its future trend.