ABSTRACT
The chapter covers the basics of language description: substance; form and meaning; and their realisations in phonology, orthography, grammar, lexis, discourse, and pragmatics. There is an introductory-level outline of the main formal features, language variation and variety, and the contemporary role of English in the world. It is argued that a good knowledge of language and how it works is indispensable to being a good ELT practitioner.
