Applied Linguistics Critiques is dedicated to the rigorous examination of research quality in published works, ensuring that the field of applied linguistics evolves through critical engagement, methodological scrutiny, and intellectual independence. The journal aligns with the intellectual legacy of critical philosophy, rational inquiry, and scientific skepticism, drawing on thinkers from René Descartes to Immanuel Kant, Karl Popper, Michel Foucault, and Jürgen Habermas. It embraces the Cartesian method of systematic doubt, Kantian critique of epistemological limitations, Popperian falsifiability, Foucauldian discourse analysis, and Habermasian communicative rationality to challenge dominant paradigms in applied linguistics.
At the heart of this endeavor is Kant’s call to Sapere aude!—"Dare to know!" This principle, which defined the Enlightenment as an escape from self-imposed intellectual immaturity, resonates deeply with the mission of Applied Linguistics Critiques. Scholarship must not merely accumulate knowledge but must also question the assumptions that shape it. Applied linguistics has, at times, accepted research findings without sufficient scrutiny, allowing ideological biases, methodological flaws, and institutional pressures to define academic discourse. This journal seeks to counteract this trend by providing a space where research is not only disseminated but interrogated—ensuring that scholarly contributions withstand the highest standards of validity, reliability, and ethical integrity.
René Descartes, the father of modern rationalism, argued that methodological skepticism—the deliberate act of doubting accepted truths—was the foundation of all intellectual progress. Applied Linguistics Critiques follows this Cartesian tradition, encouraging scholars to doubt linguistic theories, challenge assumptions, and refine methodologies until they can withstand rigorous scrutiny. This aligns with Karl Popper’s principle of falsifiability, which argues that scientific progress depends on the ability to refute weak theories rather than blindly accept them. Too often, applied linguistics has relied on untested assumptions and ideological trends, producing research that lacks empirical rigor or fails to withstand critical examination.
The journal also engages with the power dynamics of academic knowledge production, drawing from Michel Foucault’s analysis of discourse and power. Foucault exposed how dominant ideologies shape research agendas, funding priorities, and academic gatekeeping, often reinforcing particular ways of thinking while suppressing others. Applied Linguistics Critiques serves as a counterweight to intellectual conformity, promoting alternative perspectives, methodological pluralism, and resistance to institutional dogma.
Additionally, Jürgen Habermas’ theory of communicative rationality informs the journal’s commitment to open, transparent, and critical dialogue in applied linguistics. Language is not just a medium of communication but a tool of power, negotiation, and ideological framing. By interrogating the ways in which linguistic research is conducted, interpreted, and applied, this journal fosters a more democratic, reflexive, and ethically responsible field.
Inspired by Kant’s Critique of Pure Reason, Applied Linguistics Critiques interrogates the epistemological and methodological foundations that underpin contemporary linguistic research. It demands that linguistic inquiry not only describe but also critically evaluate its own assumptions, methods, and theoretical frameworks. The journal upholds Kant’s belief that enlightenment requires not just the freedom to think but also the discipline to think well.
In this spirit, Applied Linguistics Critiques asserts that scholarship must be both reflective and reflexive, unafraid to question its own foundations. It calls upon researchers to embrace Descartes’ radical doubt, Kant’s critical reason, Popper’s falsification, Foucault’s critique of power, and Habermas’ commitment to rational discourse—all in service of a more rigorous, ethical, and intellectually independent applied linguistics.
The Journal of Applied Linguistics Critiques (JALC) is an independent, non-profit, open-access academic journal dedicated to fostering rigorous yet balanced scholarly debate in the field of applied linguistics. Our mission is to provide a platform for critical engagement with all aspects of applied linguistics, ensuring that theoretical frameworks, methodologies, empirical studies, and emerging linguistic issues are examined through a constructive but uncompromising lens.
JALC does not engage in negative or dismissive criticism but rather promotes balanced critical analyses that recognize both the strengths and limitations of scholarly works, theoretical paradigms, and institutionalized linguistic practices. In keeping with this principle, the journal welcomes responses from original authors whose research or theoretical positions have been critiqued, fostering a dynamic and reflective academic dialogue.
Beyond critiquing published research, JALC expands the scope of critique to include broader ideological, sociopolitical, and institutional issues within applied linguistics. This includes:
Langlism (linguistic discrimination based on adherence to standard or native-like norms).
Equity and Inclusion in Language Education (examining biases in language policies, curriculum design, and assessment).
World Englishes and Linguistic Hegemony (challenging the dominance of native-speaker models in applied linguistics).
Ethical Issues in Language Assessment and AI Integration (critiquing the growing role of artificial intelligence and data-driven decision-making in applied linguistics research and teaching).
JALC also serves a mentorship and didactic function, promoting research quality awareness among early-career scholars. Through detailed critiques, the journal educates emerging researchers on rigorous research design, methodological soundness, and theoretical coherence, equipping them with the analytical tools necessary for high-quality scholarship. By modeling constructive critique, JALC fosters an academic culture where critical inquiry is not feared but embraced as an essential part of scholarly development.
A key secondary mission of JALC is to expand the scope of study for each analyzed work, offering recommendations for future research directions. By identifying gaps, proposing alternative perspectives, and encouraging deeper inquiry, the journal seeks to inspire ongoing scholarly exploration and refinement of applied linguistics.
JALC publishes scholarly critiques, theoretical evaluations, and meta-analyses of existing research, policies, and paradigms in applied linguistics, focusing on:
Second Language Acquisition (SLA) and its evolving theoretical models.
Language Testing, Assessment, and Ethics in Standardized Exams.
Sociolinguistics and World Englishes, including critiques of linguistic hegemony.
Discourse Analysis and Critical Pedagogy, examining language as a tool of power.
Research Methodologies in Applied Linguistics, exposing limitations and suggesting refinements.
AI and Automation in Language Learning, scrutinizing ethical and pedagogical implications.
Linguistic Justice and Policy, interrogating equity and inclusion in language education.
JALC welcomes contributions that challenge prevailing assumptions, interrogate research methodologies, critique dominant paradigms, and propose alternative interpretations. By encouraging constructive engagement with both published research and broader linguistic ideologies, JALC promotes a deeper, more reflective understanding of applied linguistics while upholding the highest standards of academic integrity, intellectual independence, and scholarly mentorship.
In an era where applied linguistics is increasingly shaped by institutional, technological, and sociopolitical forces, JALC asserts that rigorous critique is not just beneficial but necessary. Through systematic inquiry, intellectual independence, and a commitment to academic transparency, JALC serves as a guardian of research quality, a challenger of complacency, and a catalyst for innovation in applied linguistics.