Thesis (MA (African Languages))--University of Stellenbosch, 2010. / ENGLISH ABSTRACT: The main concern of this thesis relates to an investigation of the lexical-semantic nature of the motion verb –phuma (exit, go out) in isiZulu within the framework of Generative Lexicon Theory. In particular, the thesis explores the event structure and aspectual verb class properties in the locative-subject alternation with the verb –phuma in isiZulu. Chapter one presents a general introduction to the study, stating the purpose and aims of the research, giving a broad perspective of the theoretical framework adopted, and outlining the organisation of the investigation of the lexical-semantic properties of –phuma. Chapter two presents a detailed discussion of Generative Lexicon Theory, which centrally concerns accounting for polysemy phenomena across various nominal and verbal expressions. The four dimensions of lexical-semantic representation that constitute the central theoretical properties in Generative Lexicon Theory are reviewed, i.e. Argument structure, Event structure, Qualia structure and Lexical Inheritance structure. In addition, the various facets of meaning of Qualia structure namely Fomral, Constitutive, Telic and Agentive facets, are described in relation to their theoretical significance in accounting for word meaning and polysemy. Chapter three examines in a systematic and comprehensive way the range of locative-subject alternation possibilities with the verb –phuma. In particular the range of semantic types of the NP subject argument of –phuma taking a locative complement is explored to determine whether all these sentences permit a corresponding locative-alternation construction. In addition, the aspectual verb class properties of the two variants in the alternation are analysed with regard to a range of diagnositics associated with stative events, activity events, achievement events and accomplishments events. It is known that the two variants in the alternation can be distinguished in terms of their aspectual verb class properties. Chapter four summarises the main findings of the study and presents the conclusion. / AFRIKAANSE OPSOMMING: Die hoofbelang van hierdie tesis hou verband met die ondersoek van die leksikaal-semantiese aard van die bewegingswerkwoorde –phuma in isiZulu binne die raamwerk van Generatiewe Leksikon teorie soos uiteengesit deur Pustejovsky (1996). Die tesis ondersoek spesifiek die gebeurtenis ('event') struktuur en aspektuele werkwoordklas eienskappe in die lokatief-subjek alternasie met die werkwoord –phuma in isiZulu. Hoofstuk een gee 'n algemene oorsig van die studie, stel die doelstellings van die teoretiese raamwerk wat aanvaar word, en skets die organisasie van die studie oor die leksikaalsemantiese kenmerke van –phuma. Hoofstuk twee bied 'n detail bespreking van Generatiewe Leksikonteorie, wat sentraal verband hou met die verklaring van polisemieverskynsels van naamwoordelike en werkwoordelike uitdrukkings. Die vier dimensies van leksikaal-semantiese representasie wat die sentrale teoretiese eienskappe vorm in Generatiewe Leksikonteorie word beskou, naamlik argumentstruktuur, Gebeurtenis ('Event') struktuur, Qualiastruktuur en Leksikaleerwingstruktuur. Voorts word die verskillende fasette van betekenis van Qualiastruktuur, nl. Formeel, Konstitief, Doel ('Telic') en Agentief beskryf rakende die teoretiese belang daarvan vir die verklaring van woordbetekenis en polisemie. Hoofstuk drie ondersoek op 'n sistematiese wyse die verskeidenheid van lokatief-subjek alternasie moontlikhede met die werkwoord –phuma. In die besonder, word die semantiese tipes van die NP subjek argument van –phuma wat 'n lokatiewe komplement neem ondersoek om te bepaal watter van hierdie sinne neem 'n lokatiewe-alternasie konstruksie. Voorts word die aspektuele werkwoordklas kenmerke van die twee variante in die alternasie ontleed met verwysing na 'n reeks toetse vir die onderskeid van aspektuele werkwoordklasse. Daar word aangetoon dat die twee alternasies onderskei kan word in terme van aspektuele werkwoordklas. Hoofstuk vier gee die opsomming en konklusie van die studie. / UKUBUKEZA KAFUSHANE: Lesi sifundo sibheka ucwaningo lwesimantikhi yelekhizikhoni yezenzo ezikhethiweyo esiZulwini. Esahlukweni soku – 1, injongo yalesisifundo iyashiwo, imiphumela yocwaningo mayelana nesimathikhi yelekhizikhoni yesenzo u – phuma kanjalo nengqikithi yelekhizikhoni itshengiswe ngokukaPustejovosky (1996). Isimo sengqikithi kanye nokulungiselelwa kwesifundo kuzoxoxwa ngakho kulesisifundo. Isahluko sesi – 2 siveza uhlobo lwesimantikhi yethu. Ulwazi olucutshunguliwe lwelekhizikhoni lufaka amazinga amaningi amele izinhlobo ezahlukeneyo zolwazi lwesimantikhi. Kula mazinga singabala isakhiwo sempikiswano, isakhiwo sesigameko, isakhiwo sekhwaliya kanye nesakhiwo esisohlwini ololandelayo. Lesi sahluko sesibili sibuye siboniso ngokucace kakhulu ngokwesakhiwo sekhwaliya nangendima edlaliwe ekuqhubekiseni imisebenzi yamagama kanye namabinzana ahlanganisiwe. Isahluko sesi – 3 sihlola ucwaningo lwesimantikhi lwesenzo u – phuma esimayelana nezingxenye zezimpawu ezikhethiweyo zempikiswano yebinzana lebizo eliyinhloko yesenzo u – phuma kanye nezincazelo ezahiukahlukene ezivela emagameni ahlanganiswe ngokwempikiswano yemfezeko. Izindlela zezincazelo eziningi zesenzo u – phuma zihloliwe esakhiweni sokushintshana emishweni ngokubandakanye esakhiweni sesigameko. Incazelo yelekhizikhoni ngokwamagama esakhiwo sempikiswano kanye nesakhiwo sesigameko sesenzo u – phuma emishweni eyahlukahlukene icutshunguliwe. Isahluko sesi – 4 siyisiphetho esifingqa konke okutholakala ezahlukweni ezindlule esifundweni socwaningo lwelekhizikhoni yesimantikhi yezenzo ezikhethwe esiZulwini.

<p>The literature on J. K. Rowling’s Harry Potter is prolific. People have written on various topics dealing with issues such as translation, etymology and diverse areas concerning the language. In this essay, I examine whether linguistic features such as reporting verbs, adverbs of manner and adjectives contribute to the depiction of heroic and villainous characters. Before conducting this research, my assumptions were that there would be a great difference in the value of the words depending on the character they were associated with. I wanted to see if the heroic characters used verbs and adverbs with positive connotations, and the villainous characters verbs and adverbs with negative connotations. I also wanted to know if the adjectives describing the characters could, in themselves, clearly indicate whether a character was a hero or a villain.</p><p>The results of my research suggested that the choice of particular verbs and adverbs contributed only indirectly to the depiction of the characters. Without context, it was not possible to know if the character was a hero or a villain simply by identifying the verbs and adverbs used to describe their speech. By contrast, the choice of particular adjectives did appear to indicate more clearly whether a character was hero or villain. Finally, the results of my research indicated that context, rather than the use of particular linguistic features was often the most important factor in contributing to the portrayal of characters in the novel.</p>

<p><strong>ABSTRACT</strong></p><p> </p><p><strong>Title</strong>: Les verbes à particule dans quatre traductions suédoise. Analyse contrastive entre langue source et langue cible.</p><p><strong>Language</strong>: French</p><p><strong>Author</strong>: Annika Holmé</p><p><strong>University/Department/Year: </strong>Linnæus University/School of Language and Literature/2010</p><p> </p><p> </p><p>In modern French there are no phrasal verbs and the aim of this essay is to analyse what happens to the meaning of French data, when translated into Swedish phrasal verbs. In Swedish there is very often a choice between a phrasal verb and a simple verb, for example <em>starta </em>et <em>starta upp</em>.</p><p>This is a contrastive analysis based on four different translations from French into Swedish, one of which is technical, one economic, one cultural and one political. In these four translations there were in total 128 examples of a Swedish phrasal verb, or in some cases past participles. Our analysis comprises the following particles (adverbs and prepositions): <em>av</em>, <em>i</em>, <em>ihop</em>, <em>in</em>, <em>ner</em>, <em>om</em>, <em>på</em>, <em>till</em>, <em>upp</em> and <em>ut</em>. We have analysed 43 cases where these particles have occurred.</p><p>First of all, we define the meaning of the French data (which is not always a verb) and then we define the Swedish translation with a phrasal verb. Next, we compare both meanings, in order to see if the presence of the particle has kept, changed or modified the meaning between source and target text. Finally, we explain the reason behind each translation.</p><p>Our analysis revealed that the meaning was sometimes made explicit, as in <em>spara in</em>. In other cases, the meaning was intensified, as in <em>driva på.</em> Furthermore, the analysis revealed a difference in levels of style, where in some cases the presence of a particle passed on a more informal style in the target text in comparison to the source text, as in <em>starta upp</em>.</p><p><strong>Keywords</strong>: translation, French, Swedish, phrasal verbs, comparison, meaning, Aktionsart</p><p> </p><p> </p><p> </p>

本文以客語移除類動詞為研究對象探索語意和形式的關係。動詞的語義透過詞彙分解化、概念結構、詞彙化、框架語義和顯像等機制帶出。後以Goldberg (1995, 2006)的構式理論為基礎，運用Iwata (2005a, b)建議的修正模式，對動詞和結構之間的整合，提出更精細、更詳盡的解釋。根據前述方法，我們初步將移除類動詞分為六個次分類，並呈現出他們在結構上被顯像的論元。最後帶入Iwata提出的模組，分析各次分類動詞和不同句子結構的結合情形和其後的語義表現。 / This paper aims to explore verbs of removal in Hakka with respect to the relationship between form and meaning. Following the constructional approach in the shape of Goldberg (1995, 2006) and Iwata (2005a, b), we display a finer mechanism for the integration of verbal meanings and constructions. Verbal meanings, L-meanings (Lexical Head Level Meaning), are carried out through the following concepts: decomposition, conceptual structure, conflation, frame, profiling. Constructional meanings or P-meanings (Phrasal Level Meaning), variants of L-meanings, are manifested by different constructions. In our preliminary analysis, we display six tentative subclasses of verbs of removal in Hakka, depending on their different lexicalized meanings. We also present the different roles they profile in phrasal expressions. Last, we demonstrate the integration of the verbal meaning and several constructions (e.g., BUN construction and LAU construction).

The aim of this master's thesis, "Utilizing an interactive whiteboard to learn verbs in German lesson" is presented in two parts. The theoretical part is devoted to aspects which influence teaching, and therefore the preparation of interactive materials. The practical part is focused on the proposal of activities used on the interactive whiteboard. The theoretical part is divided into three chapters. The first chapter allows us to view the educative process from a psychological perspective, attempting to clarify the importance of relevant styles and strategies used effectively while learning a foreign language. The concern of chapter two is an interactive board and multimedia. Principles which should be followed by educators who are creating teaching materials are also introduced. Furthermore, there are presented internet portals which can be used in German lessons. The last chapter of the theoretical part is dedicated to grammar and the grammatical category - verbs. The practical part is predominantly based on creating your own teaching materials, which are designed to practise German verbs. The activities are split up into two sections (for elementary school and high school). An evaluation of the teaching materials results from survey. They were verified in the educational practice.

En parcourant l’histoire des deux langues malaise et sanscrite, nous avons non seulement mis encore plusen lumière que le malais puise dans la langue sanscrite mais également remarqué que les mots sanscritsempruntés ont subi des modifications au niveau phonologique. Par ailleurs, le préfixe sanscrit est toujoursutilisé pour créer de nouveaux mots. Nous avons proposé que le malais soit alors rattaché à la branche« Indo-malaisienne ». Nous mettons en évidence dans ce travail des structures phrastiques canoniquesd’une part du malais et d’autre part nous comparons les systèmes verbaux du français et du malais. Le malais présente un degré d’agglutination élevé alors que pour le français le phénomène est très rare. Nous voyons par exemple aussi qu’en français le complément indirect est introduit par une préposition alors que le malais omet la préposition, que le verbe « ada » en malais exprime certains sens des verbes « être et avoir », que les structures de transitivité du verbe et les structures aspectuelles ne sont pas identiques dans les deux langues, etc. Nous avons mis en place un formalisme qui permet de comparer les deux systèmes en nous inspirant des microsystèmes établis par S. Cardey et pour créer d’autres microsystèmes verbaux. Nous voyons ainsi mieux les convergences et divergences au niveau des structures et des systèmes verbaux du français et du malais. / Having closely examined the history of Malay and Sanskrit, we have not only shed new light on Malay’sdrawing on Sanskrit but we have also observed that words borrowed from Sanskrit have beenphonologically modified. Furthermore Malay still uses Sanskrit prefixes to generate new words. Wepropose that Malay be attached to the ‘Indo-Malaysian’ language branch. We have analyzed canonicalsentence structures and have also compared the verbal system of French and Malay. Malay is a highlyagglutinative language whilst for French verbs this phenomenon is very rare. We have observed forexample that the indirect object is introduced by a preposition in French whilst prepositions are absent inMalay; that the Malay verb “ada” can represent certain meanings of ‘be and have’ in French (être andavoir); that transitive and aspectual structures are not the same in the two languages, etc. We havedeveloped a formal representation which enables comparing the French and Malay languages systems, thisbeing inspired by S. Cardey’s micro-systemic approach which has also enabled creating other verbal microsystems.In doing so, we have clarified the similarities and differences concerning French and Malaystructures and verbal systems.

Cette thèse propose une analyse contrastive de la causalité en arabe et en français. L’intérêt d’une telle étude est double. Nous exposons un cadre linguistique concernant l'analyse des différentes manifestations linguistiques causales. Ensuite, nous établissons de ressources linguistiques relatives à la causalité selon la méthode d’exploration contextuelle (Desclés 1997) destinées à un traitement automatique pour une recherche d’information. Nous passons à l'étude du lexique verbal afin d’organiser une grande diversité des verbes indicateursde causalitéen arabe ainsi que de dresser une liste assez complète des significations des verbes indicateurs répertoriés et de les classer dans des catégories sémantiques. Dans le but d’élaborer une carte sémantique causale, nous avons été obligées de préciser un réseau de concepts théoriques relatifs à la causalité. Le modèle de Talmy a constitué notre point de départ, il nous a permis une première décomposition de la signification des verbes indicateurs causaux. Le modèle de la Grammaire applicative et cognitive (Desclés 1990) nous a fourni un cadre pertinent pour représenter cette décomposition et l’affiner également. Pour finir, nous avons élaboré les schèmes sémantico-cognitifs des verbes indicateurs causals ainsi que des schémas aspecto-temporels en tenant compte des arguments impliqués par la causalité. / This thesis proposes a contrastive analysis of causality in Arabic and French. The interest of such study is twofold. We present a linguistic framework for the analysis of different linguistic causal manifestations. Then, we establish linguistic resources of causality following the contextual exploration method (Desclés 1997) used in automatic processingfor information retrieval. We turn to the study of the verbal lexicon to organize a wide variety of existing indicators verbsof causality in Arabic, and to compile a fairly complete list of the meanings of verbs indicators listed and classify them into semantic categories. In order to develop a causal semantic map, we have been obliged to specify a network of theoretical concepts related to causality. Talmy model was our starting point; it allowed us to undertake a certain decomposition of the meaning of causal indicators verbs. The model of Applicative and Cognitive Grammar (Desclés 1990) provided us with a relevant theoretical framework to analyze this decomposition. Finally, we have developed semantic-cognitive patterns for the causal indicators verbs as well as aspectual-temporal patterns taking into account the arguments involved by in the causality.

“No aspect of Basque linguistics has received more attention over the years than the morphology of the verb.” (Trask 1981:1) The current study examines the complex morphological agreement patterns found in the Basque auxiliary verb system as a case in point for discussion of theoretical approaches to inflectional morphology. The traditional syntax-driven treatment of these auxiliaries is contrasted with an inferential, morphology-driven analysis within the Paradigm Function Morphology framework. Additionally, a computational implementation of the current analysis using the DATR lexical knowledge representation language is discussed.

Nesta pesquisa tratamos de questões relacionadas ao ensino e à aprendizagem dos paradigmas verbais do espanhol a/por brasileiros. Tomamos como ponto de partida a hipótese de que, para obter resultados satisfatórios no ensino dos verbos do espanhol, em especial do modo indicativo, a aprendizes brasileiros, é necessário utilizar uma metodologia que obedeça a parâmetros didático-pedagógicos específicos sobre os sistemas verbais dos dois idiomas e que atenda às peculiaridades do nosso alunado. Tivemos por objetivos neste estudo: i) apresentar questões de ordem teórica sobre ensino de línguas próximas e ensino de gramática; ii) descrever e analisar os sistemas verbais do português do Brasil e do espanhol com ênfase no modo indicativo e identificar as convergências e divergências entre as duas línguas, em nível morfológico; iii) refletir sobre as consequências dessas convergências e divergências no processo de ensino e aprendizagem; iv) realizar uma pesquisa in loco com alunos e professores de um curso de licenciatura em Letras/Língua Espanhola; v) realizar um estudo sobre estratégias de aprendizagem e crenças sobre ensino e aprendizagem do sistema verbal da língua espanhola a/por brasileiros. O referencial teórico utilizado para o alcance desses objetivos conformou-se, sobretudo, nas contribuições de ALMEIDA FILHO (1995, 2002 e 2004), BARCELOS (2001, 2004 e 2010), BECHARA (2004), BELLO (1988), CÂMARA JR. (1977 e 2002), CYR (1998), DURÃO (1999 e 2004), FARACO e MOURA (1998), FRANCHI (2006), MIKI KONDO (2002), GARBUIO (2010), LLOBERA (1995), LUFT (1996), MASIP (1999), O´MALLEY E CHAMOT (1990), PORTO DAPENA (1987 e 1991), POSSENTI (1996), RAE (1996 e 2001), RICHARDS e LOCKHARTE (1998), SÁNCHEZ PÉREZ (1992 e 2000), SANTOS GARGALLO (1999 e 2004) e DICCIONARIO SOPENA (1984). Os resultados de pesquisa obtidos apontaram, grosso modo, que: i) Os alunos-informantes da investigação sentem dificuldade na aprendizagem dos verbos do espanhol e, tanto professores como alunos apontaram que as principais são as irregularidades verbais e a interferência da língua portuguesa; ii) os alunos-informantes utilizam muito pouco algumas estratégias de aprendizagem ou nunca utilizam a maioria delas; iii) as estratégias de aprendizagem são igualmente relevantes, tanto para o professor na preparação de atividades, como ferramentas para promover a aprendizagem dos paradigmas verbais, quanto para os alunos na construção desta aprendizagem; iv) apesar de discentes e docentes possuírem algumas crenças diferentes, há uma coincidência significativa em algumas delas entre ambos os grupos; v) com relação à hipótese central da pesquisa, a metodologia que mais se aproxima dos parâmetros didático-pedagógicos específicos sobre os sistemas verbais do português e do espanhol e que pode atender às peculiaridades do nosso alunado é aquela que é compatível com a gramática pedagógica. Dentre as contribuições da pesquisa, julgamos que a principal foi apresentar subsídios consistentes no desenvolvimento do campo das descrições linguísticas e metodológicas referentes ao ensino de verbos do espanhol a/por brasileiros que podem constituir-se como um ponto de partida para a implementação de ações concretas que contribuam para um ensino mais adequado e uma aprendizagem mais eficaz dos verbos do espanhol, especialmente os tempos do modo indicativo. / In this research we deal with issues related to the teaching and learning of the verbal paradigms of the Spanish language to / by Brazilians. Wetook as its starting point the assumption that, to obtain satisfactory results in the teaching of Spanish verbs, in particular the indicative mode, to Brazilian learners, it is necessary to use a methodology that meets the specific didactic-pedagogical parameters about the verbal systems of both languages and that suits the peculiarities of our students. We had the following goals for this study: i) present theoretical issues on the learning of similar languages and the teaching of grammar; ii) describe and analyze the verbal systems of the Portuguese and the Spanish languages with emphasis on the indicative mode and identify the convergences and divergences between both languages at the morphological level, iii) reflect on the implications of these convergences and divergences in the teaching and learning process; iv) conduct a survey with students and teachers of an undergraduate course in Language and Literature / Spanish Language, v) conduct a study on learning strategies and beliefs about the teaching and learning of the verbal system of the Spanish language to / by Brazilians. The theoretical basis for achieving these objectives conformed mainly on contributions from ALMEIDA FILHO (1995, 2002 and 2004), BARCELOS (2001, 2004 and 2010), BECHARA (2004), BELLO (1988), CÃMARA JR. (1977 and 2002), CYR (1998), DURÃO (1999 and 2004), FARACO e MOURA (1998), FRANCHI (2006), MIKI KONDO (2002), GARBUIO (2010), LLOBERA (1995), LUFT (1996) , MASIP (1999), O\'MALLEY and CHAMOT (1990), PORTO DAPENA (1987 and 1991), POSSENTI (1996), RAE (1996 and 2001), RICHARDS and LOCKHARTE (1998), SÁNCHEZ PÉREZ (1992 and 2000) SANTOS GARGALLO (1999 and 2004) and DICCIONARIO SOPENA (1984). The research results showed, broadly, that: i) The informant-students of this research have difficulty in learning the Spanish verbs, and both teachers and students pointed out that the main deficiencies are the verbal irregularities and the interference of the Portuguese language, ii) the student-informants use very little learning strategies or never use most of them, iii) learning strategies are equally relevant for both the teacher when preparing activities, such as tools to promote the learning of verbal paradigms, and for the students in the construction of learning; iv) although some students and teachers have different beliefs, there is a significant coincidence in some of them between both groups; v) with respect to the central hypothesis of this research, the methodology that most closely matches the didactic-pedagogical parameters about the verbal systems of the Portuguese and the Spanish languages and that can meet the peculiarities of our students, is the one that is compatible with the pedagogical grammar. Among the research findings, we believe that the most relevant one was to present consistent subsidies in developing the field of linguistic and methodological descriptions for the teaching of the Spanish verbs to / by Brazilians which might constitute as a starting point for implementing concrete actions, contributing to a more appropriate education and more effective learning of Spanish verbs, especially the indicative mode tenses.

Nesta dissertação tratamos de questões relativas às dificuldades de ensino dos tempos verbais pretérito indefinido e pretérito perfecto compuesto do modo indicativo nas aulas de Espanhol Língua Estrangeira ELE para falantes do português brasileiro. Partimos do pressuposto de que a Linguística Contrastiva pode contribuir de maneira eficaz visto que possibilita ao estudante contrastar as convergências bem como as divergências inerentes ao uso de sua língua materna em relação à língua espanhola, especialmente devido à relativa semelhança existente entre os idiomas em destaque. Nossos objetivos consistiram em: a) observar e buscar preencher as lacunas relacionadas ao ensino dos tempos verbais pretérito indefinido e pretérito perfecto compuesto; b) descrever quais são suas semelhanças e diferenças em relação ao uso em língua portuguesa; c) analisar de que maneira a Linguística Contrastiva pode contribuir quando do tratamento dos tempos verbais destacados nas aulas de ELE, além de analisar sua abordagem em alguns materiais didáticos; d) detectar quais procedimentos de ensino são mais cabíveis para o ensino desse tema. O arcabouço teórico utilizado fundamentou-se, principalmente, nos conceitos propostos e/ou defendidos por Bello e Cuervo (1943), RAE (2010), Alarcos Llorach (1995), Matte Bon (2010a), Cunha e Cintra (2007), Bechara (2009), Luft (1996), Almeida (1973), Durão (2004a) e Santos Gargallo (1993), bem como nas reflexões contidas nas OCEM (BRASIL, 2006). Os resultados obtidos por meio da pesquisa revelaram que os professores de ELE ensinam os tempos verbais em destaque apoiados na definição básica apresentada nas gramáticas, isto é, a forma simples deve ser empregada para fazer referência a situações passadas ocorridas em um espaço de tempo encerrado e a forma composta deve ser utilizada para expressar acontecimentos pretéritos realizados em um espaço-temporal ainda não concluído e, portanto, não esclarecem a seus alunos as diferentes possibilidades de uso dos dois tempos verbais. Os docentes-colaboradores também acreditam que os materiais didáticos abordam o assunto de maneira superficial, pois oferecem poucas explicações e/ou sugestões de atividades. Os manuais, por sua vez, utilizam a abordagem contrastiva, mas não enfocam os tempos verbais em pauta de maneira abrangente. Por fim, verificamos que os docentes, em geral, fazem uso de procedimentos de ensino que remetem à metodologia Tradicional e Áudio-oral de ensino. Julgamos que os 11 resultados desta pesquisa contribuem para o ensino do pretérito indefinido e pretérito perfecto compuesto nas aulas de ELE na medida em que enfatizam e valorizam as diferentes possibilidades do uso real que o falante faz da língua e salientam a importância do aperfeiçoamento contínuo do professor para o desenvolvimento de sua função. / This thesis is about the questions related to the difficulties encountered in the teaching of the verb tenses pretérito indefinido and pretérito perfecto compuesto in the Spanish as a foreign language classes SFL for Brazilian Portuguese speaker students. We assume that the Contrastive Linguistics approach can effectively contribute as it gives the students the chance to contrast the differences and similarities in the structures and usage of their mother tongue and the Spanish language, due to the alikeness existent between both languages. Our objectives were: a) observe and fill in the gaps related to the teaching of the two verb tenses mentioned above; b) describe the similarities and differences in their usage in relation to the usage in Portuguese; c) analyze in which ways Contrastive Linguistics can contribute to the teaching of those verb tenses in the SFL classes, besides analyzing its approach in some teaching materials; d) detect which teaching procedures are better for the teaching of those verb tenses. The theory in this essay was mainly based on the concepts proposed and/or endorsed by Bello and Cuervo (1943), RAE (2010), Alarcos Llorach (1995), Matte Bon (2010a), Cunha and Cintra (2007), Bechara (2009), Luft (1996), Almeida (1973), Durão (2004a) and Santos Gargallo (1993), as well as the reflections enclosed in the OCEM (BRASIL, 2006). The results found in this research revealed that SFL teachers, teach these verb tenses based on the basic definition presented in grammar books, that is to say, the simple form should be used with reference to finished periods, whereas the compound form suggests a connection between the past event and the present. Therefore, teachers do not point out the different possibilities of the use of both verb tenses. Teachers who helped in this research also believe that teaching materials approach this subject in a superficial way as they offer very few explanations and/or suggestions of activities. Teachers guides use the contrastive approach but they do not focus deeply on the verb tenses. Lastly we observed that teachers in general either use Traditional procedures, or the Audio-oral teaching approach. We believe that the results of this research can contribute to the teaching of the verb tenses pretérito indefinido and pretérito perfecto compuesto in the SFL classes as they emphasize and value the different possibilities of the real use the native speaker makes of the language and point out how important continuous teachers development is for their career.