Reviews current research to investigate the way the power and politics of genre is often exploited by the so-called established membership of disciplinary communities to keep outsiders at a safe distance. Argues that the privilege to exploit generic conventions to create new forms becomes available only to those few enjoying a certain degree of…

A forum article on teaching English as communication examines the focus on the learning, developing a communicative curriculum, sociolinguistic issues, and teacher education. Two comments are provided on the article, and the author responds to these comments. (Author/VWL)