Latest Content

• Emojis as tools of collective judgment 2026-03-13
  Abstract Cancel culture has proliferated in cyberspace; groups target actions perceived as morally wrong to assert their ethical stance. These attacks aim to punish or “cancel” specific users, often in attempts to ostracize them from digital spaces, with possible real-world repercussions. In this study, we examine the pragmatic role of emojis in cancel culture discourse […]
• Hypercorrect Moun[thɨn] in Utah English 2026-03-13
  Abstract This study analyzes unstressed /tən/ in words like button, kitten, and mountain. In Utah, there are three variants: North American mainstream [ʔn̩], forticized [thɨn], and local [ʔɨn]. While previous work in Utah has focused on [ʔɨn], I use an auditory analysis of wordlist data from 117 Utahns to show that [thɨn] is the majority […]
• From socialism to neoliberalism 2026-03-13
  Abstract This paper examines textbooks for teaching Serbian as a foreign language, revealing ideological shifts from their production in socialist Yugoslavia to post-socialist Serbia. Using Multimodal Critical Discourse Analysis, it explores how these materials reflect a move from collective socialist identity to individualized, neoliberal subjectivity. The analysis situates linguistic and cultural changes within broader socio-political […]
• “We was goin’ kangaroo shooting” 2026-03-13
  Abstract This paper examines was/were variation in a corpus of naturalistic Australian Aboriginal English (AE), a post-invasion contact-based variety spoken by First Nations people in Australia. While a tendency towards was levelling was attested in earlier descriptions of AE, quantitative sociolinguistic studies are yet to be offered. We draw on the speech of 31 First […]
• Fluency assessment 2026-03-13
  Abstract Speech fluency is often assessed using articulation rate and pause frequency. However, not all pauses hinder fluency: when placed strategically, they structure discourse and enhance comprehensibility. To better characterize speaker fluency, it is crucial to consider where pauses occur. Traditional approaches rely on categorical syntactic boundaries (e.g., clauses or phrases), but inadequately capture syntactic […]
• A holistic approach to pragmatic development of discussion starters in L2 online forums 2026-03-13
  Abstract This article examines pragmatic development in L2 online forum discussions. The data was gathered from learners’ text-based discussions of weekly reading materials in a fully online course of L2 English at a Japanese university. Information solicitation acts in thread-opening posts emerged as a trackable pragmatic feature. An examination of 38 thread-opening posts revealed that […]
• Role of pragmatic instruction and individual differences variables in determining level of pragmatic competence 2026-03-13
  Abstract This study investigates the impact of pragmatic instruction and several individual difference variables on pragmatic competence. The examined variables include cultural distance from the target language community, level of target language proficiency, length of residence in the target language country, and level of target language contact. Eighty undergraduate students from diverse backgrounds enrolled at […]
• Difficulty level of EFL test designed by pre‑service teachers 2026-03-13
  Abstract Since 2024, English as a Foreign Language (EFL) teaching and assessment in Indonesian primary and secondary schools have aimed for B1 Common European Framework of Reference (CEFR) proficiency. However, studies regarding aligning teacher training with CEFR-based assessment design are rare. Consequently, teacher training institutions, which previously did not pay attention to the issue, were […]
• Animal personas, ambivalent judgements, and affective effects in social media reels 2026-03-13
  Abstract This paper discusses humorous internet reels featuring cute animals voicing critical opinions about human behaviours and lifestyles. The reels are characterised by incongruity between the images of animals and the content of their messages. An analysis of lexical items and pragmatic implications of these messages indicates that a distinct idiolect has been created for […]
• Uneven retention 2026-03-13
  Abstract This study investigates gender inequalities in continued participation in competitive debate within Spanish-speaking university contexts. Quantitative data from major international Spanish-language debate tournaments held between 2020 and 2024 were analyzed. The findings indicate that men tend to remain involved in competitive debate for longer periods than women. This pattern is consistent with the perceptions […]
• One country, many languages 2026-03-13
  Abstract In multilingual countries like Singapore, shop signage serves as a prominent site for observing how language is used to communicate cultural, social, and political messages. Building on the original linguistic landscape conceptualization of Landry and Bourhis (1997), this study examines the linguistic environment in Singapore’s Chinatown. It adopts a mixed-method approach, combining photographic documentation […]
• Interdiscursivity in Chinese discourse on plagiarism 2026-03-13
  Abstract While much research has explored attitudes toward plagiarism, there has been limited focus on how different socio-cultural groups articulate their criticisms of plagiarism. This paper examines how Chinese secondary school students and editors of student magazines employ interdiscursive rhetorical strategies to critique plagiarism. The data comprises a rare public-facing corpus of published Chinese texts, […]
• AI-as-affect 2026-03-12
  Abstract In English-dominant academia, multilingual scholars often contend with tensions between achieving global visibility through English-language publishing and sustaining local scholarly communities. The emergence of generative artificial intelligence (GenAI) introduces new possibilities for managing these pressures while also generating complex emotional and ethical dilemmas. Drawing on poststructural theories of emotion and affect, this study conceptualizes […]
• The transformative nature of AI on academic scholarship 2026-03-12
  Abstract The use of AI in academic research offers new opportunities for knowledge creation but also creates new forms of inequality between the Global North and the Global South. This paper uses epistemic justice theory to analyze the developing “AI-Enabled Scholarship Divide. Drawing on a comprehensive synthesis of existing empirical studies from Africa, Asia and […]
• Generative AI and linguistic diversity in academic writing and publishing 2026-03-12
  Abstract The rise of generative artificial intelligence (GenAI) in academic writing and publishing (AWP) raises questions about linguistic inclusivity and the legitimacy of diverse Englishes in global scholarly communication. This article responds to these questions through a structured scholarly dialogue involving five sociolinguists from World Englishes and adjacent fields. Organised around five guiding questions, the […]
• Review of Plo-Alastrué & Corona (2023): Digital Scientific Communication: Identity and Visibility in Research Dissemination 2026-03-12
  This article reviews Digital Scientific Communication: Identity and Visibility in Research Dissemination 
• Generative Artificial Intelligence (GenAI) and writing for scholarly publication 2026-03-12
• Learning to use GenAI for scholarly publication 2026-03-12
  Abstract Unequal access to resources for publication for Global South scholars is decidedly real when we consider issues of epistemic injustice encountered by them (Higgins, 2024). The emergence of Generative artificial intelligence (GenAI) may seem like a panacea for addressing this social injustice. However, ongoing material challenges (e.g., limited access to digital media and AI […]
• Dialogic triad 2026-03-12
  Abstract This article introduces the “dialogic triad,” a model that redefines human-AI collaboration in scholarly writing by integrating relational agency and Bakhtinian dialogism. Through a case study involving two scholars and multiple GenAI systems, we demonstrate how AI serves as an active co-creator, provoking critical reflection and epistemic innovation. The study highlights moments of tension, […]
• Ensuring ethical standards in scholarly publishing 2026-03-12
  Abstract The rapid integration of Generative Artificial Intelligence into scholarly publishing presents transformative potential and ethical challenges. This study examines how academic institutions and journals address these challenges, with a focus on key areas such as authorship, peer review, early-career researcher development, and governance policies. Employing a qualitative research design, the study draws on documentary […]