Virtual Journal of Language, Literature, and Culture (VJLLC) Policy Document

ISSN: Print [3106-6577] Online [3106-6585]

Focus & Frequency

The Virtual Journal of Language, Literature and Culture (VJLLC), hosted by Virtual University of Pakistan, is a biannual, open-access academic publication that maintains a double-blind peer-review process. The journal seeks to foster inclusive, globally relevant scholarship by offering a space for both emerging and established voices in the fields of language, literature, and cultural studies. All content is freely accessible online, promoting wide dissemination of knowledge. We welcome original contributions (research articles, theoretical debates, creative writing and book/film reviews) that explore theoretical, empirical, and applied dimensions of human communication, artistic expression, and cultural practices in diverse global contexts of language studies, literary scholarship, and cultural analysis.

Scope

VJLLC welcomes contributions that engage with a wide range of topics, including but not limited to:

1. Language & Linguistics

• First and Second Language Acquisition: Cognitive, social, and pedagogical aspects of L1/L2 learning; bilingualism/multilingualism; language attrition.
• Theoretical Linguistics: Phonetics, phonology, morphology, syntax, semantics, pragmatics, and historical linguistics.
• Applied Linguistics: Language teaching (L2 pedagogy, TESOL), corpus linguistics, forensic linguistics, computational linguistics, and discourse analysis.
• Sociolinguistics & Pragmatics: Dialectology, language policy, identity, gender, power, and ideology in communication.

2. Literary Studies

• All Genres & Forms: Poetry, prose, drama, graphic novels, digital literature, oral traditions, and experimental texts.
• Literary Theory & Criticism: Postcolonialism, feminism, ecocriticism, narratology, postmodernism, and comparative literature.
• World Literatures: Analyses of texts from any linguistic, national, or historical tradition, including marginalized/indigenous voices.
• Literature & Interdisciplinarity: Connections to history, philosophy, religion, psychology, media, and technology.

3. Cultural Studies

• Cultural Theory: Semiotics, posthumanism, memory studies, material culture, and popular culture.
• Media & Digital Culture: Film, music, gaming, social media, and their linguistic/literary intersections.
• Identity & Representation: Race, ethnicity, gender, sexuality, disability, and class in cultural production.
• Global & Transnational Cultures: Diaspora studies, cross-cultural exchange, folklore, and heritage preservation.

Methodological Approaches

Qualitative, quantitative, mixed methods, textual analysis, ethnography, archival research, and computational/digital humanities.

Geographical & Temporal Coverage

All regions, historical periods, and contemporary contexts, with emphasis on inclusivity and underrepresented perspectives.

Exclusions:

• Purely clinical studies (e.g., speech therapy without sociocultural focus).
• Technical linguistic models without applied/theoretical relevance.

Author Guidelines

Submission Categories

• Research Articles (5,000–8,000 words)
• Theoretical or Conceptual Papers (4,000–6,000 words)
• Book/Film Reviews (1,000–2,000 words)
• Creative Work (Poetry, Short Stories, Translations, etc.)
• Cultural Commentaries and Essays (1,500–3,000 words)
• Interviews and Dialogues

Formatting

• File format: MS Word (.doc or .docx)
• Font: Times New Roman, 12 pt, double-spaced
• Citation Style: MLA (9th edition) or APA (7th edition) — indicate your preferred style in the submission
• Abstract: 150–250 words with 5–7 keywords
• Author Info: Full name, institutional affiliation, email, and a 100-word bio

Submission Process

• Login to journals.vu.edu.pk, select VJLLC and upload the paper via the online submission system.

Review Policy

• Initial screening by the editorial team of VJLLC
• Sent to reviewers after ensuring necessary checks
• Double-blind peer review (typically 2 reviewers)
• Sent for revisions if required and sent back to reviewers in case of major revisions
• Final decision by the Chief Editor based on the quality of the paper after acceptance from the reviewers
• Decision within 8–12 weeks from submission

Archiving

VJLLC is committed to the long-term digital preservation of all published content to ensure permanent access and availability for future research and scholarly use. Each article is assigned a unique Digital Object Identifier (DOI) and archived in trusted repositories to guarantee its visibility, citation, and accessibility over time.

Privacy Statement

• Personal information provided to VJLLC (e.g., names, emails, affiliations) is used exclusively for the journal's publishing processes.
• Information is never shared with third parties for marketing or commercial purposes.
• Reviewer identities remain confidential throughout and after the review process.

Ethical Guidelines

Virtual Journal of Language, Literature and Culture (VJLLC) is committed to maintaining the highest standards of ethical conduct in scholarly publishing. Our ethical framework is based on the principles outlined by the Committee on Publication Ethics (COPE) and adapted for contemporary practices, including the responsible use of Artificial Intelligence (AI) tools.

For Authors

Originality and Plagiarism

• Submissions must be the author’s own original work and must not be under consideration elsewhere.
• All sources, including data, figures, and text, must be properly cited and referenced.
• Plagiarism, self-plagiarism, and unauthorized reuse of content will lead to rejection or retraction.

AI Acknowledgment and Transparency

• Authors must disclose the use of any generative AI tools (e.g., ChatGPT, Grammarly, DeepL, etc.) in the creation or editing of the manuscript.
• AI tools must not be listed as co-authors.
• The use of AI should be limited to assistive functions (e.g., grammar correction, data analysis, language translation). It should not replace intellectual contribution or critical argumentation.
• A clear statement should be included in a footnote or an "Acknowledgment" section, such as:

“This manuscript was assisted by [name of AI tool] for [purpose, e.g., grammar editing, summarizing references, translation support]. The authors take full responsibility for the content and interpretation of the work.”

HEC policy for plagiarism and AI content must be followed.

Conflicts of Interest

All potential conflicts of interest, financial or otherwise, must be disclosed upon submission.

Multiple Submissions

The same manuscript must not be submitted to more than one journal concurrently.

Authorship

Only those who made significant contributions to the conception, design, execution, or interpretation of the research should be listed as authors.

 For Reviewers

• Maintain confidentiality regarding all submissions.
• Declare any conflict of interest before accepting a review assignment.
• Provide objective, constructive, and timely feedback.
• Refrain from using any AI tools to review or summarize confidential manuscripts without explicit permission from the journal.

For Editors

• Ensure a fair, unbiased, and timely peer review process.
• Maintain confidentiality of submissions and reviewer identities.
• Uphold integrity in handling disputes or ethical complaints.

 Misconduct Handling

The journal reserves the right to investigate any suspected ethical breaches. Proven misconduct may result in actions including retraction, editorial notice, reporting to the author's institution, or a publication ban.

Publication Charges

The journal does not charge any publication or article processing fees (APCs).