ESP within a new descriptive framework

ABSTRACT: This paper introduces and defines four language planning terms (status planning, corpus planning, policy planning, and language cultivation) into the ESP literature. This nomenclature describes and categorizes the different planning phases involved in communicative curriculum design, implementation and maintenance. The utility of these terms as descriptors for the language teaching problem‐solving process is then exemplified with reference to two language problems frequently encountered by ESP practitioners, namely the selection of: (1) a medium (or media) on instruction for use in the classroom, and (2) an appropriate standard variety of English and attendant standards of correctness expected of the learners. Finally, possible objections to the ideas expressed in this paper are discussed and refuted.