La utilidad del concepto de referencia en la didáctica del E/LE

The purpose of this work is to prove that, in the grammars of E/LE, the theories presented in the conceptualizations of the article are based on descriptions which refer directly to the extra-linguistic world. These theories follow the traditional view that regards the linguistic sign as a “referential mark” and ignores the contribution of pragmatic factors in the interpretation of speech. The lack of distinction between the system offered by the language, the study of which pertains to Linguistics, and the expressive effects that are interpreted in each context, the study of which pertains to Pragmatics, generates contradictions and false rules that hamper the comprehension of how this micro-system works and is acquired. A critical analysis of the study materials in E/LE reveals a need for a more abstract and meta-linguistic description of the functioning of such micro-system (meta-operational hypothesis). In order to contrast the Spanish and the Italian article the methodology of functional analysis was applied. More precisely, a comparative study of the usage of these operators in a same speech act was carried out. The text genre analyzed consisted in the short relations that make up the headlines of crime reports in newspapers. Such functional approach allowed for the observation and explanation of some tendencies in the usage of this micro-system.