We publish original, peer-reviewed research that examines the complex relationships between language, culture, society, and identity, with an emphasis on contemporary global challenges.
Themes for Contribution
We welcome contributions addressing—but not limited to—the following areas:
Submissions from interdisciplinary perspectives are strongly encouraged.
Submission Guidelines
General Requirements
Structure of the Manuscript
The Journal of Discourse Review prioritises analytical depth, original contributions, and thematic relevance in discourse-related research. The following guidelines provide a detailed outline of each section of the manuscript’s main body. Authors are expected to structure their work accordingly. Manuscripts may be empirical (case study-based) or theoretical but must provide new insights into discourse analysis or discourse-oriented inquiry.
1. Introduction
This section should briefly introduce the topic, outline the purpose of the paper, and highlight its relevance. Authors may choose to situate their work within broader academic or societal conversations, state their research questions (if applicable), and indicate what the reader can expect in the paper.
Note: The introduction need not be lengthy, but it should provide enough context to understand the motivation behind the work.
2. Theoretical Framework / Literature Review
Authors may include a discussion of related research, concepts, or theoretical perspectives that inform their work. This section can:
Tip: Instead of listing studies, synthesise them around key debates or issues.
3. Methodology (for empirical studies only)
For papers that involve empirical research or data collection, this section can describe:
Authors may also include reflections on challenges or decisions made during the research process. This section can be adapted based on the nature of the work—for example, conceptual or theoretical papers may not require a methodology section.
Tip: Use subheadings to enhance readability, especially in longer methodology sections.
4. Analysis and Discussion
This is typically the most substantial part of the manuscript and should offer a thoughtful and well-developed examination of the topic. Whether based on data, theory, or reflection, this section should aim to:
We recommend that this section make up at least 55–60% of the total manuscript, as it forms the heart of the contribution.
Tip: Balance evidence with interpretation. Integrate literature where needed to support or contrast findings.
5. Conclusion
The conclusion can summarise the key ideas discussed in the paper, reflect on their significance, and suggest possible directions for future work. It may also address the broader implications of the study or the questions it raises.
Authors are welcome to be concise or reflective, depending on the tone and focus of their work.
Tip: Emphasise the contribution your study makes to discourse studies, especially in the South Asian or Global South context if applicable.
Conflict of Interest Statement
Authors are requested to disclose any potential conflicts of interest that could be perceived to influence the objectivity, integrity, or outcomes of their research. A conflict of interest does not necessarily prevent publication, but transparency is essential to maintain ethical standards and trust in scholarly publishing.
What Authors Should Do
At the time of submission, authors must:
Referencing Guidelines (APA 7th Edition)
The Journal of Discourse Review follows the APA (American Psychological Association) 7th Edition referencing style. All manuscripts submitted to the journal must adhere to these guidelines for in-text citations, reference lists, tables, and figures.
Below is a detailed outline to help authors format their references correctly.
1. In-Text Citations
In-text citations briefly identify the source of information within the body of the manuscript. APA uses the author–date system.
A. Paraphrasing or Summarising
Example:
(Sen, 2010)
or
Sen (2010) argues that...
B. Direct Quotations
Example:
"Language is not neutral" (Fairclough, 1992, p. 57).
For quotes over 40 words, use a block quote format (indented, no quotation marks), with the citation placed after the final punctuation.
C. Multiple Authors
D. Multiple Works
2. Reference List
All sources cited in the text must appear in the reference list, and vice versa. The list should appear at the end of the manuscript under the heading References, in alphabetical order by the first author’s surname.
A. Books
Format:
Author, A. A. (Year). Title of book: Subtitle in italics. Publisher.
Example:
Gee, J. P. (2014). An introduction to discourse analysis: Theory and method (4th ed.). Routledge.
B. Journal Articles
Format:
Author, A. A. (Year). Title of article. Title of Journal, Volume(Issue), page range. https://doi.org/xxxxx
Example:
Blommaert, J. (2005). Bourdieu the ethnographer: The ethnographic grounding of habitus and voice. The Translator, 11(2), 219–236. https://doi.org/10.1080/13556509.2005.10799195
C. Book Chapters
Format:
Author, A. A. (Year). Title of chapter. In E. E. Editor (Ed.), Title of book (pp. xx–xx). Publisher.
Example:
Norton, B. (2013). Identity and language learning: Back to the future. In J. S. P. Gee & M. Handford (Eds.), The Routledge handbook of discourse analysis (pp. 367–376). Routledge.
D. Webpages
Format:
Author, A. A. (Year, Month Day). Title of webpage. Website Name. URL
Example:
United Nations. (2023, June 5). World environment day. UN News. https://www.un.org/en/world-environment-day
E. Newspaper Articles
Format:
Author, A. A. (Year, Month Day). Title of article. Newspaper Name, page number (if available).
Example:
Chopra, R. (2022, December 19). Language politics in Indian schools. The Hindu, p. 8.
3. Tables
Tables should be used to present concise, non-redundant data. Each table must:
Example:
Table 1
Distribution of Language Use Across Domains
| Domain | English (%) | Hindi (%) |
|---|---|---|
| Home | 30 | 70 |
| Workplace | 60 | 40 |
Note: Percentages represent averages across 50 participants.
4. Figures
Figures may include images, charts, graphs, or illustrations. Each figure should:
Example:
Figure 1
Conceptual Framework for Language Identity Construction
(Insert image here)
Illustrations (Figures, Charts, and Diagrams)
If your article includes essential illustrations—such as diagrams, charts, graphs, or other visual materials—please provide them as separate high-resolution files, clearly labeled as Figure 1, Figure 2, Figure 3, and so on. These files should not be embedded within the main manuscript document.
In the body of your manuscript, indicate the intended placement of each illustration using the following format:
(Insert Figure 1 here)
(Insert Figure 2 here)
This helps the editorial team and typesetters understand the correct positioning of the visuals during the layout process.
Formatting Guidelines for Figures
Terms of Acceptance
Authors submitting their work to the Journal of Discourse Review are kindly requested to review the following terms, which outline the editorial process and publication expectations.
1. Submission Copies
Please retain a copy of your manuscript for your records. Submissions will not be returned, regardless of the outcome.
2. Peer Review and Decision Timeline
All submissions will undergo a peer review process, typically reviewed by members of the Editorial Board or external experts. Decisions on acceptance, revision, or rejection will generally be communicated within approximately three months of receipt. We aim to provide timely and constructive feedback to support authors throughout the process.
3. Formatting and Editorial Changes
Manuscripts should be prepared in accordance with the guidelines outlined in this document. The Editor may request reformatting of articles that do not follow the submission specifications.
The editorial team also reserves the right to make minor changes to accepted manuscripts to improve clarity, consistency, or style. Authors will receive a copy-edited version for approval and will be asked to return any corrections or comments by the deadline provided.
To facilitate communication, authors should provide their full postal address, email address, and contact number at the time of submission.
4. Copyright and Permissions
Authors are responsible for securing permission to use any third-party materials (e.g., copyrighted text, figures, or illustrations). Any associated fees must be borne by the author unless otherwise agreed in writing.
The Journal of Discourse Review assumes that submitted work:
5. Copyright and Author Rights
Upon acceptance, authors will be invited to complete a copyright licence form, granting Journal of Discourse Review the right to publish the work.
Authors retain the right to:
All requests for third-party reproduction should be directed to the journal’s editorial team, and we will consult the author before granting any such requests.
6. Communication and Author Information
By submitting a manuscript, authors acknowledge that the Journal of Discourse Review may use the email address provided to correspond regarding the status of the submission. If your contact details change during the review or production process, please notify the editorial team promptly.
Please note that we do not retain rejected manuscripts or associated files after the decision process is completed.