Reference to the native tongue is considered necessary in FL teaching. Differences and congruence of meaning in the two languages are examined with respect to their help or hindrance in language learning. Using examples, the problems of inferring the meaning of the foreign word are examined. (Text is in German.) (IFS/WGA)

Argues for an integral role of contrastive analysis and translation in a foreign language teaching program. (AM)

Offers a systematic statement of the lexical differences between "noch" and "schon," which should serve teachers better than their intuitive feelings for those words. (IFS/WGA)

Discusses, using German and Italian as an example, sentences containing the indefinite agent (German "man") and reflexive and passive constructions, showing contrasts between equivalent structures in the two languages. (IFS/WGA)

Discusses, using examples, problems raised by differences in meaning between "equivalent" Russian and German words. Calls for clear definitions of Russian basic vocabulary words. (Text is in German and Russian.) (IFS/WGA)

Asserts that there is no such part of speech in Chinese as the "co-verb" and demonstrates that such forms are simply transitive verbs which, in addition to several other Chinese structures, are used to translate English sentences with prepositional phrases. (FWB)

Reviews several publications dealing with comparison of Italian and German, with a view to ascertaining how useful their material might be in constructing an Italian textbook for Germans. The material is found to be too theoretical, or too limited to the standpoint of German as a foreign language. More error analysis is needed. (IFS/WGA)

Pessimism regarding pedagogical applications of contrastive studies, and reasons therefore, are described. Several misunderstandings believed to contribute to this pessimism, and several areas of controversy concerning uses of contrastive studies, are discussed. See FL 508 197 for availability. (RM)

Some of the most frequent and serious learning difficulties encountered by Thai students learning English verbs, which involve the linguistic discrepancies between the Thai and English verbs, are analyzed. (Author/RM)

The use of contrastive analysis in foreign language teaching is based on five assumptions: (1) that the prime cause of difficulty and error in foreign language learning is interference from the learners' native language; (2) that these difficulties are due chiefly to the differences between the two languages; (3) that the greater these…

The need for a contrastive approach in foreign language teaching has long been recognized, but in the construction of textbook materials and in classroom practice it has rarely been realized. For pedagogical purposes a useful distinction can be drawn between difference and contrast. Differences can be taught as new items of knowledge, whereas…

Discusses lexical interference for Germans learning Russian, appearing in (1) imperfect equivalencies, (2) differences in the ways the two languages realize "deeper meanings." Using a contrastive approach, guidelines for teaching are suggested. Some typical lexical errors are analyzed, and suggestions offered for avoiding them. (Text is in…

Laments the lack of attention given to interference in vocabulary learning as contrasted with that accorded to interference in the communicative function of language, because the former is of greater qualitative importance. Gives examples from several languages showing the origins and bases of interference. (IFS/WGA)