It has been suggested that all speech communities have varieties of simplified speech regarded as appropriate for use with individuals who do not have a full command of a language. These simplified codes are conventionalized within speech communities and are learned by the same process of cultural transmission as other language behaviors. This discussion focuses on the characteristics of simplified codes directed at non-native speakers of the target language, traits that trigger the use of these codes, and issues related to them. The discussion looks at simplified codes as they are used in the classroom (teacher talk), and the possible effects of these codes on English language teaching. (27 references) (JL)