Contrastive analysis in language: identifying linguistic units of comparison

This is a book about comparison in linguistics in general, rather than 'contrastive analysis' as a distinct branch of linguistics.

It addresses the question 'Does the analytical apparatus used by linguists allow comparisons to be made across languages?' Four major domains are considered in turn: derivational morphology, syntax, semantics & pragmatics, and discourse.

Contributions cover a broad spectrum of linguistic disciplines, ranging from contrastive linguistics and linguistic typology to translation studies and historical linguistics.