There are two good reasons for incorporating historical linguistic insight into second language instruction: (1) to answer students' questions about why certain puzzling facts and irregularities occur in the language they are studying; and (2) as in other disciplines, a historical perspective can shed light on current practice. From a historical…

Business writers often use--or may be taught to use--strategies for verbal interaction analogous to those they use in conversation. Unfortunately, much current composition theory discounts analogies between verbal interaction in speaking and writing and therefore disallows applying the results of linguistic investigations of spoken language use to…

In the British post-colonial era, instruction in English as a second language has developed stronger ties to the field of applied linguistics than to education. Both British and foreign instructors have been trained in linguistic rather than educational theory and practice. One result has been a cadre of specialists not fully prepared for jobs in…

The summary papers of the conference on second language teaching include (1) a summary of the concluding panel discussion (Kip Cates, Denis Cunningham, Albert Raasch, Braj Kachru, Carol Rinnert) on the role of languages and the responsibility of language education in lowering cultural barriers, the ethical responsibility of language professionals,…