kontrastiva

Kontrastiva is a term used in linguistics, often in Slavic-language contexts, to denote the field or practice of contrastive analysis. It centers on identifying systematic differences and similarities between two languages—typically a learner’s first language and the target language—with the aim of predicting and explaining language learner errors and informing teaching materials and curricula.

The approach emerged during the mid-20th century as part of the broader program of contrastive linguistics. The contrastive analysis hypothesis proposed that many second-language errors arise from transfer from the native language, so documenting cross-language contrasts could guide instruction and materials design. Researchers compare linguistic levels such as phonology, morphology, syntax, lexicon, and semantics to classify potential transfer errors.

In practice, kontrastiva involves producing contrastive descriptions, grammars, or teaching resources that highlight areas where learners are likely to struggle due to L1 interference. It has influenced language education, curriculum development, and the creation of teaching tools and reference grammars.

Criticism and evolution followed, with questions about over-prediction of errors and insufficient account of learners’ creative mistakes or intra-language variation. Modern usage often integrates kontrastiva with error analysis, learner corpora, and transfer studies, adopting a more flexible view of cross-linguistic influence. Today, kontrastiva remains a reference point in discussions of cross-language differences and their implications for teaching and translation.