The similarities and contrasts between languages are, of course, the source 
of many errors in foreign language learning.   Yet, following the rejection 
of audiolingualism in the late 60s, there also came the rejection of the 
relevance of contrastive analysis to language learning.   This is but one 
more example of the uncritical stance of bandwagonism.  Articles on CA 
simply disappeared from most mainline journals without empirical 
justification and the gurus of the period, Dulay, Burt and Krashen had no 
compunction about writing the nonsense (page 5 in Language Two) that 
teachers need no longer give lessons aiming to make learners aware of  the 
errors caused by cross linguistic associaton.

Unfortunately, the editors of journals of the day conspired to propagate 
this nonsense which even today still strongly influences textbook writers.

Ron Sheen 

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