Reviewer Responsibilities

As a reviewer for the Journal of Language, Literature & Social Affairs (JLLSA), you play a vital role in upholding the scholarly quality, integrity, and academic value of the work we publish. The following responsibilities outline the expectations for our reviewers and ensure a fair, ethical, and rigorous peer review process.

1. Provide an Objective and Unbiased Review

  • Offer a fair, impartial, and evidence-based assessment of the manuscript.
  • Your evaluation should focus solely on the academic content and should not be influenced by the author’s identity, gender, nationality, institutional affiliation, or personal beliefs.
  • Avoid any form of prejudice or assumptions in your assessment.

2. Maintain Strict Confidentiality

  • Treat all submitted manuscripts as confidential documents. Do not discuss, share, or disclose any part of the manuscript with anyone outside the editorial team.
  • Do not use any information from the manuscript for personal benefit or scholarly advantage prior to its publication.

3. Declare Any Conflicts of Interest

  • Promptly inform the editorial office if you have any real or perceived conflicts of interest personal, financial, academic, or professional that may compromise your impartiality.
  • If you believe you cannot provide an unbiased review, respectfully decline the invitation.

4. Conduct a Comprehensive Evaluation

  • Carefully assess the manuscript for its relevance, originality, academic rigor, and contribution to the field of language, literature, or social sciences.
  • Provide detailed feedback on the following key elements:
    • Research Design and Methodology – Are the methods appropriate, valid, and clearly explained?
    • Data and Analysis – Is the data accurate, sufficient, and well-analyzed?
    • Findings and Conclusions – Are the conclusions well-supported by the data?
    • Clarity and Structure – Is the manuscript well-organized, coherent, and clearly written?

5. Uphold Ethical Standards

  • Report any suspected ethical misconduct, such as:
    • Plagiarism or significant text overlap (JLLSA allows a maximum similarity index of 10%)
    • Data fabrication or falsification
    • Duplicate submissions or prior publications
    • Inappropriate or unethical research practices

6. Provide Constructive and Respectful Feedback

  • Deliver clear, specific, and actionable suggestions aimed at improving the manuscript’s quality.
  • Avoid vague, overly critical, or dismissive remarks. Constructive criticism should guide the author toward meaningful improvements.
  • Maintain a professional and respectful tone throughout, regardless of your recommendation.

7. Adhere to Review Timelines

  • Submit your review within the agreed time frame, typically within 2–4 weeks.
  • If you are unable to meet the deadline, notify the editorial office as early as possible to arrange an extension or suggest an alternative reviewer.

8. Support the Double-Blind Review Process

  • Respect the journal’s double-blind peer review policy by ensuring that neither your identity nor the author's identity is disclosed.
  • Do not include any personal information in your review that could reveal your identity.

9. Make a Clear and Justified Recommendation

  • Based on your assessment, provide one of the following recommendations:
    1. Accept – The manuscript is suitable for publication with or without minor revisions.
    2. Revise – Major or minor revisions are required before the manuscript can be accepted.
    3. Reject – The manuscript does not meet the journal’s standards or is unsuitable for publication.
  • Your recommendation should be accompanied by a clear rationale supported by specific observations from the manuscript.

10. Participate in Re-Review (If Applicable)

  • If the manuscript undergoes major revision, you may be invited to re-review the updated version.
  • Please verify that your comments have been adequately addressed and that the revisions meet the journal’s publication criteria.

11. Maintain Professional Conduct

  • Treat all authors with courtesy and respect, regardless of the manuscript’s quality or outcome of your review.
  • Avoid personal remarks, derogatory language, or unprofessional tone in your review comments.

Your cooperation, professionalism, and dedication are essential to the success of JLLSA’s peer review process. We sincerely thank you for your time and contribution to maintaining scholarly excellence.