English – like all languages – has a predilection for ‘rules’, as grammatical patterns are often called. Generally the patterns are fairly straight-forward, though sometimes they become rather complex, perhaps with numerous exceptions or irregular features. To further obscure the picture, language patterns do not stay still, variations occurring in place and time. At first sight, English word-building elements – such as prefixes and suffixes – would appear to be fairly regular, presenting clear morphological patterns with few exceptions. But first appearances can be deceptive.

A controversial author considers the reception that his recent book ‘Language is power’ has been receiving from some fellow scholars of language

An explanation of how words from Malay are used in English and exhibited in various dictionaries, particularly with regard to Malaysia and Singapore

An overview of the political status, functions, and characteristics of Puerto Rican English

A reply to Frank Palmer and Patrick Honeybone on the issue of a Chomskyan ‘language gene’

A discussion of the historical and social complexities involving English in this West African country

PATRICK HONEYBONE replies to Michael Bulley's article ‘A wild gene chase’(ET51)

An examination of a distinctive intonation pattern in the English of Singapore

A report from the Survey of English Usage at the Department of English Language and Literature, University College London

DAVID ROSEWARNE shows, by offering us both fact and fiction, that Estuary English is making friends in high places

A detailed further inquiry into the nature, use and prospects of medical technical terms based on personal names

A re-examination of a widely-established view of how English works in the world

An overview of language status in Cameroon which calls for the integration of Pidgin English into national life