This paper examines from a discourse point the inability of a second language learner to comprehend the total discourse in a paragraph even if he understands all of the words and sentences. Research shows that native readers of English in science and technology use presuppositional information lacking in non-natives. (CHK)

Two questions, what is a contrastive grammar, and what is comparable across linguistic systems, are touched on. The problem of the exact relationship of contrastive linguistics to linguistic theory is addressed. Two perhaps mutually exclusive views are discussed. See FL 508 197 for availability. (Author/RM)