English is Context is as enjoyable to read as it will be enjoyable to teach. It is amusing yet
authoritative provocative yet without causing offence whimsical yet well-documented personal
yet eminently practical. Part A offers theory: taking the reader on a journey across the
history of language in context - from the author's very personal perspective - through a
history of language through the ages quoting the most wide-ranging and often surprising of
references ... to the specifics of the language classroom. Part B offers activities: initiating
the learner in the secret of pragmatics through a first set of short introductory practical
activities a second set that investigates the importance of context in the language we live
and four further chapters that delve deeper into the question of how we speak and the ways we
say what we may - or may not! - mean. Part C offers reflection: resuming the perspective of the
author at the end of Part A it concentrates on the language classroom and reflects on
pragmatics in regard to the teacher to the learner and ultimately to both together - in such
a way that a much greater shared understanding and incipient control of pragmatic competence
is successfully achieved.
