Opinions differ on the importance of the native speaker's concept for language teaching and testing. This Commentary maintains that it is important and seeks to explain why. Three types of grammar are distinguished, the individual's, the community's and the human faculty of language. For first language teaching and testing it is the community's…

Focuses on the concept of "native speaker," with particular attention to the discussion of whether native speakers of World English are native speakers of English. (Author/VWL)

Addresses three questions regarding Standard English; (1) Is there a Standard English and what is it?; (2) Do we need Standard English?; and (3) Which Standard English should we choose? (Author/VWL)

Suggests that English-as-an-International-Language (EIL) and interlanguage, in recent years, have emerged as two major developments in applied linguistics and language-teaching studies. Three questions are addressed concerning EIL and language teaching. (27 references) (Author/VWL)