Craig, Perera's work has absolutely NOTHING to do with correctness. For our colleagues in K-12 settings, it is valuable research. Craig writes: . . . .we don't have a mainstream body of research looking at language maturation for native speakers. The whole debate about grammar tends to focus on "correctness". ******************** Again, I am troubled by the very general nature of this claim. Craig writes: In Writing Science, Halliday directly takes on the notion that science pushes changes in language that are necessary, but can become highly dysfunctional. ******* Exactly what are the changes that SCIENCE (any particular branch of science?) has "pushed" on the language making it "highly dysfunctional"? I find it interesting that someone who abhors a focus on "correctness" praises work that seems to find a particular genre of writing dysfunctional. I am unaware of any examples from science that makes the LANGUAGE dysfunctional. Craig, can you provide us with some examples? Bob Yates, University of Central Missouri To join or leave this LISTSERV list, please visit the list's web interface at: http://listserv.muohio.edu/archives/ateg.html and select "Join or leave the list" Visit ATEG's web site at http://ateg.org/