Peer Review Policy

Overview

The Journal of Language, Literature & Social Affairs (JLLSA) is dedicated to maintaining the highest academic standards through a transparent, impartial, and ethically sound peer review process. Every manuscript submitted to JLLSA is evaluated for its originality, scholarly value, methodological soundness, and relevance to the broader fields of language, literature, and social sciences. The peer review process plays a vital role in upholding the credibility and academic integrity of the journal.

Review Model: Double-Blind Peer Review

To ensure objectivity and prevent any potential bias, JLLSA employs a double-blind review system:

  • Author anonymity: Reviewers do not have access to the identity of the author(s).
  • Reviewer anonymity: Authors remain unaware of the reviewers’ identities.

This method ensures that manuscripts are judged purely on academic merit, independent of the identities or affiliations of the individuals involved.

Peer Review Workflow

1. Submission and Preliminary Editorial Check

  • Authors submit manuscripts via the online JLLSA submission portal.
  • The editorial team conducts an initial review to verify that the submission fits the journal's scope, complies with formatting and ethical guidelines, and meets basic quality criteria.
  • Submissions that fail to meet these standards may be declined without external review.

2. Reviewer Selection and Assignment

  • Manuscripts deemed suitable are assigned to at least two independent reviewers with appropriate subject matter expertise.
  • Reviewers are selected based on academic qualifications, research experience, and lack of conflicts of interest with the authors.

3. Review Process

  • Reviewers receive anonymized manuscripts and assess them based on originality, clarity, rigor, methodological soundness, and the significance of the research.
  • They provide constructive feedback and make one of the following recommendations:
    • Accept without revision
    • Accept with minor revisions
    • Major revisions required (resubmission)
    • Reject

4. Editorial Evaluation and Decision

  • Editors evaluate reviewer reports and determine the final outcome.
  • If revisions are requested, the manuscript is returned to the author(s), who must address the feedback and resubmit within a specified timeframe.
  • Revised submissions may undergo further review or be accepted at the editor’s discretion.
  • Authors are notified of the final decision along with relevant reviewer comments.

Timeframe

The typical duration for the peer review process ranges from 4 to 6 weeks. However, timelines may vary based on manuscript complexity and reviewer availability.

Reviewer Ethics and Responsibilities

Reviewer Selection

  • JLLSA maintains a diverse and qualified panel of reviewers across disciplines in the social sciences and humanities.
  • Reviewers are chosen for their subject matter expertise, academic integrity, and impartiality.

Confidentiality

  • All manuscripts under review are confidential documents.
  • Reviewers must not disclose or discuss manuscript content with third parties without prior editorial consent.

Ethical Conduct

  • Reviewers are expected to provide unbiased, constructive, and respectful feedback.
  • Any potential conflicts of interest—personal, professional, or financial—must be disclosed immediately to the editorial office.

Appeals Process

Authors who believe their manuscript has been unfairly rejected may file an appeal. The appeal must include a detailed explanation and justification. Appeals are reviewed by the editorial board, and in some cases, an independent expert may be consulted. The decision of the Editor-in-Chief following the appeal is final.

Commitment to Ethical Standards

JLLSA aligns its review practices with the ethical guidelines established by the Committee on Publication Ethics (COPE). All parties involved—editors, reviewers, and authors—are expected to uphold principles of integrity, transparency, and academic responsibility throughout the review process.

Reviewer Recognition

To honor the essential contributions of peer reviewers:

  • JLLSA publishes an annual list of reviewers on its website.
  • Certificates of acknowledgment are available upon request as a token of appreciation for their service.

Conclusion

At JLLSA, the peer review process is the cornerstone of scholarly publishing. Through a structured, fair, and ethically governed system, the journal ensures that only high-quality research contributing meaningfully to its disciplines is published. This commitment strengthens both academic excellence and the trust of the scholarly community.