Ministry of higher and secondary special education of the republic uzbekistan state world languages university

1.4. Types of language comparison
Comparative Typology may compare language systems panchronically though they are living or dead; besides, it may compare language systems synchronically and diachronically.
Diachronic approach is a stative study of a certain period. Synchronic approach is a dynamic one.
Comparison may be of two types: substantial and non-substantial.
Under substantial comparison linguists mean comparison of some concrete things or objects, e.g. sounds, digits, numbers, etc. Under non-substantial comparison linguists mean comparison of systems and their elements.
At the early stages of development of typology as a science, the major role be­longed to substantial comparison, which is considered primary. Yuri Rojdenstvenskiy' wrote "... in General Linguistics the relations between language systems based on substantial features. The languages were considered cognate because the linguists found principal similarity in their substance: sound and content". Non-substantial comparison played a significant role in shaping Comparative Typology as an independent science.
There are two approaches to language description: internal and external.
Internal approach deals with the comparison of the systems of any concrete language. It is inner comparison within one concrete language. External approach deals with cross-language comparison.


Questions for self-control:

1. 
   How can you define the term ‘typology’?
   
2. 
   What is the difference between Linguistic and Non-Linguistic typology?
   
3. 
   Name the periods of Comparative typology development.
   
4. 
   Name the factors of Comparative typology development.
   
5. 
   What directions of comparative typological investigations are known to us?