Journal profile · Multiple
Language Variation and Change
ISSN 0954-3945 · eISSN 1469-8021 · Cambridge University Press
Language Variation and Change: CAS Zone 1 · Literature (2025 upgraded edition, Top journal); impact factor 1.64; hybrid open access; APC about USD 3,550; 14 articles in 2025; indexed in SSCI, AHCI and Scopus.
Scope
Aims, scope and focus
Language Variation and Change is published by Cambridge University Press and is in Zone 1 of Literature in the CAS Journal Ranking (2025 upgraded edition, Top journal). By OpenAlex counts of its recent articles, its largest topics are Linguistic Variation and Morphology, Phonetics and Phonology Research and Multilingual Education and Policy, together about 57.2% of its articles. Its main subfields are Language and Linguistics. (generated from OpenAlex topic counts and CAS ranking data)
Language Variation and Change ISSN: 0954-3945 (Print), 1469-8021 (Online) Frequency: 3 issues per year Founded by William Labov, Language Variation and Change is the premier journal dedicated exclusively to the study of linguistic variation, dealing with systematic and inherent variation in synchronic and diachronic linguistics. Sociolinguistics involves analysing the interaction of language, culture and society; the more specific study of variation is concerned with the impact of this interaction on the structures and processes of traditional linguistics. Language Variation and Change concentrates on the details of linguistic structure in actual speech production and processing (or writing), including contemporary or historical sources.
From the journal's Aims & Scope
Research area (LetPub): Multiple
Editor-in-chief James N. StanfordPublisher website
Editorial board by country: none in mainland China; most named United States 12, Canada 4, United Kingdom 2, Australia 2, Switzerland 2 (23 members with a country) Editorial board ↗Publisher website ·
Main research topics OpenAlex counts of recent articles; shares are approximate
- Linguistic Variation and MorphologySocial Sciences28%
- Phonetics and Phonology ResearchPsychology16.9%
- Multilingual Education and PolicySocial Sciences12.3%
- Syntax, Semantics, Linguistic VariationArts and Humanities9%
- Language, Discourse, Communication StrategiesArts and Humanities7%
- Metallurgy and Material ScienceMaterials Science6.3%
- Spanish Linguistics and Language StudiesArts and Humanities4.9%
- Diverse Scientific and Economic StudiesEconomics, Econometrics and Finance2.5%
Rankings & indexing
CAS ranking and database indexing
CAS Journal Ranking
CAS Journal Ranking, upgraded edition (March 2025)Literature Zone 1
| Level | Category | Zone |
|---|---|---|
| Major | Literature | Zone 1 |
| Minor | Language & Linguistics | Zone 1 |
| Minor | Linguistics | Zone 2 |
Top journal: yesReview journal: no
CAS Xinrui Journal Ranking (March 2026)Literature Zone 1
| Level | Category | Zone |
|---|---|---|
| Major | Literature | Zone 1 |
| Minor | Linguistics | Zone 2 |
| Minor | Language & Linguistics | Zone 1 |
Top journal: yesReview journal: not marked
CAS Journal Ranking, previous upgraded edition (December 2023)Literature Zone 2
| Level | Category | Zone |
|---|---|---|
| Major | Literature | Zone 2 |
| Minor | Language & Linguistics | Zone 2 |
| Minor | Linguistics | Zone 3 |
Top journal: noReview journal: no
Database indexing
SSCIAHCIScopusLetPub
International journal early-warning lists: not listed in any editionLetPub
Editions, and major and minor categories, are shown separately and never merged into one zone; check which edition your institution uses before you submit or report.
Metrics
Impact metrics and publication volume
Impact
- Impact factor
- 1.64LetPub ·
- CiteScore 2026-06
- 3.3LetPub ·
- SJR 2026-06
- 0.74LetPub ·
- SNIP 2026-06
- 1.91LetPub ·
- h-index
- 107OpenAlex ·
- i10-index
- 417OpenAlex ·
- 2-year mean citedness
- 1.17OpenAlex ·
- Self-citation rate
- 12.5%LetPub ·
- Share of gold OA articles
- 86.67%LetPub ·
Volume
- Articles per year
- 12LetPub ·
Articles by year OpenAlex count · 709 in total · the current year is incomplete
| Year | Articles | Open access | Citations |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2026 | 16 | 8 | 1 |
| 2025 | 14 | 14 | 23 |
| 2024 | 22 | 20 | 37 |
| 2023 | 22 | 21 | 105 |
| 2022 | 20 | 16 | 121 |
| 2021 | 23 | 16 | 182 |
Sources count differently and were observed at different times, so each source's own value is kept; "publisher" marks figures from the journal's website.
Fees & open access
APC and open-access policy
Hybrid open accessLetPub
A subscription journal in which authors can pay to publish their article open access.
| Source | APC | Fee waiver | License | Observed |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| OpenAlex | USD 3,550 / GBP 2,460 | — | — |
A hybrid journal charges the APC only when the author chooses open access; publishing under the subscription model is usually free.
The journal's website is authoritative for fees; sources were observed at different times and each keeps its own value, without averaging.
Submission
Article types and submission policies (journal website)
Article types accepted1
- research articleAccepted article types Research Article*Length not stated
Policy excerpts from the journal's websiteOpen access
- Open access Open access articles
Latest issue All issues Most cited Most read FirstView articles
Source ↗Publisher website ·
Excerpts are quoted from the journal's website; "model summary" lines are written by Workers AI and checked against the text. The journal's website is authoritative.
Profile
Publication details and official links
- Publisher
- Cambridge University Press
- ISSN
- 0954-3945
- Electronic ISSN
- 1469-8021
- Official links
- Journal homepage ↗OpenAlex
- Submission system ↗Publisher website
FAQ
Frequently asked questions about Language Variation and Change
What CAS zone is Language Variation and Change in?
In the 2025 upgraded edition of the CAS Journal Ranking, Language Variation and Change is in Zone 1 of Literature, and in Zone 1 of the minor category Language & Linguistics / Linguistics; it is a Top journal. In the 2026 Xinrui edition it is in Zone 1 of Literature. Zones from different editions, and from major and minor categories, are not interchangeable.
What is the impact factor of Language Variation and Change?
The latest impact factor listed by LetPub is 1.64; CiteScore 3.3, h-index 107.
Where are the editorial board members of Language Variation and Change based?
Of the 23 board members whose country the journal's board page names, none are in mainland China; the countries named most often are United States (12), Canada (4) and United Kingdom (2). Counted from the institutions listed on the board page; for reference only.
Which databases index Language Variation and Change?
According to LetPub and DOAJ records, Language Variation and Change is indexed in SSCI, AHCI and Scopus.
Is Language Variation and Change open access, and what is the APC?
Language Variation and Change is a hybrid journal. For open-access publication: APC about USD 3,550.
Sources and updates
The facts on this page come from LetPub, OpenAlex, Publisher website; every figure is tagged with its source and the date it was observed, and conflicting values are kept per source. LetPub source page: view ↗ (archived 2026-08-25). Last updated: .