First published 2019
The trades face a growing international demand for English-speaking workers, yet researchers have largely ignored how language actually functions in these fields. Averil Coxhead addresses this research void through empirical study of construction and engineering courses at a New Zealand polytechnic. She examines both written and spoken English in trades education, focusing particularly on discourse patterns, visual text elements, and specialized vocabulary. The book presents real workplace language examples alongside their implications for instruction and learning. Coxhead supports her findings with both qualitative and quantitative data that illuminate the most challenging aspects of English as it operates in trades contexts. She includes a dedicated chapter on translating research discoveries into classroom practice. The work provides online supplementary materials featuring technical word lists for carpentry, plumbing, automotive technology, and welding fabrication. This linguistic investigation offers students, researchers, and practitioners in English for Specific Purposes, trades education, and vocational training a foundation for understanding how specialized English functions in real-world trade environments.
Genres: english-literature, language, education, non-fiction, linguistics, academic
Vibes: thought-provoking
Setting: New Zealand
234 pages · Hardcover · Routledge