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Readers who enjoyed the venom of Roy Harris's "review" (THES, September 6) of my book Language is Power need to know one crucial piece of information which Harris did not feel able to tell us himself. This is that the book contains, in Chapter Five, an account of an academic episode in which Professor Harris played a major role.

He could have devoted a small part of his review to explaining his actions and refuting my detailed criticisms but instead - and we can guess why - he chose to attempt to ridicule and discredit the book and its author as forecast in Chapter Nine. The information in those two chapters is essential background for understanding why it was necessary to write as he did.

John Honey

Red Cross Lane, Cambridge