The Contrastive Analysis has been one of the most insightful theories of foreign/second language learning, particularly in that it shifted the attention of applied linguistics scholars to the significant role of the mother tongue, which can potentially inhibit the learner as they use it as a reference point in their effort to access the new linguistic system.

In his successful attempt to represent the field as comprehensively as possible, Carl James refers to the general areas of Linguistics and Psychology. The relationship of the field with other related areas, such as Translation and Bilingualism, is also explored. Detailed discussions of the individual concerns are developed, and pedagogical solutions are proposed.

Significant supporting roles in the author's argumentation are played by extensive examples from various foreign languages that he knows in depth. This book primarily addresses foreign language teachers but also students, both undergraduate and postgraduate, of Applied Linguistics.

[Excerpt from the text on the back cover of the edition]