Proper words in proper places

This contribution derives from a lecture given by Professor H. G. Widdowson in Oxford in October 1992. The occasion was the first Oxford/BBC Lecture at Rhodes House, University of Oxford. The talk addresses a number of current and contentious issues in English language education concerning ‘linguistic property’ and ‘linguistic propriety’. ELT Journal is pleased to publish this inaugural lecture, and thus complete the cycle of public lecture, broadcast, and print.