Journal profile · Multiple
Natural Language & Linguistic Theory
ISSN 0167-806X · eISSN 1573-0859 · Springer Nature · 4 issues per year
Natural Language & Linguistic Theory: CAS Zone 2 · Literature (2025 upgraded edition, Top journal); impact factor 0.69; hybrid open access; APC about USD 3,090; median 574 days to acceptance (69 articles, last 24 months); 62 articles in 2025; indexed in SSCI, AHCI and Scopus.
Scope
Aims, scope and focus
Natural Language & Linguistic Theory is published by Springer Nature and is in Zone 2 of Literature in the CAS Journal Ranking (2025 upgraded edition, Top journal). By OpenAlex counts of its recent articles, its largest topics are Syntax, Semantics, Linguistic Variation, Natural Language Processing Techniques and Linguistic Variation and Morphology, together about 52.6% of its articles. Its main subfields are Language and Linguistics. (generated from OpenAlex topic counts and CAS ranking data)
Natural Language & Linguistic Theory is a forum for world-leading theoretical research into detail-rich grammatical data. We seek to bridge the gap between theory and description through work that translates complex theory into concrete evidence and through work that makes complex data accessible and relevant to theoretical debate. The journal is heterodox, facilitating communication between researchers working in different incarnations of the generative program. We welcome studies in morphology, phonology, semantics, syntax, and other aspects of natural language grammar as well as interdisciplinary contributions written with theoretical linguists in mind. Submissions may be full-length articles or shorter papers (squibs) that make a focused empirical and theoretical contribution. Accessibility is important for authors and funders. Springer is a committed green publisher, registered in the SHERPA/RoMEO database. We allow self-archiving and are fully transparent about your rights. Read more about author rights at www.springer.com/gp/open-access/authors-rights.
From the journal's Aims & Scope
Research area (LetPub): Multiple
Editor-in-chief Daniel HarbourPublisher website
Editorial board by country: 1 in mainland China (about 2%); most named United States 23, Germany 5, Canada 5, United Kingdom 4, France 3 (50 members with a country) Editorial board ↗Publisher website ·
Main research topics OpenAlex counts of recent articles; shares are approximate
- Syntax, Semantics, Linguistic VariationArts and Humanities29.8%
- Natural Language Processing TechniquesComputer Science11.5%
- Linguistic Variation and MorphologySocial Sciences11.3%
- Phonetics and Phonology ResearchPsychology10.6%
- Language, Discourse, Communication StrategiesArts and Humanities8.4%
- Linguistics and Discourse AnalysisArts and Humanities4.4%
- Language, Metaphor, and CognitionPsychology2.7%
- Diverse Scientific and Economic StudiesEconomics, Econometrics and Finance2.3%
Rankings & indexing
CAS ranking and database indexing
CAS Journal Ranking
CAS Journal Ranking, upgraded edition (March 2025)Literature Zone 2
| Level | Category | Zone |
|---|---|---|
| Major | Literature | Zone 2 |
| Minor | Language & Linguistics | Zone 2 |
| Minor | Linguistics | Zone 3 |
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 1
| Level | Category | Zone |
|---|---|---|
| Major | Literature | Zone 1 |
| Minor | Language & Linguistics | Zone 1 |
| Minor | Linguistics | Zone 2 |
Top journal: yesReview journal: no
Database indexing
SSCIAHCIScopusLetPub
International journal early-warning lists: not listed in any editionLetPub
Indexing the journal's website claims
SCIEERIH PLUSCurrent ContentsPublisher website
Other: Google Scholar, EBSCO, ProQuest, Dimensions, CNKI, Baidu, Naver, OCLC, Portico, CLOCKSS
As the journal's website lists them, not checked against each database; for Web of Science editions the records above apply.
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
- 0.69LetPub ·
- Impact factor (publisher) 2025
- 0.8Publisher website ·
- 5-year impact factor (publisher) 2025
- 1.6Publisher website ·
- CiteScore 2026-06
- 2LetPub ·
- SJR 2026-06
- 0.76LetPub ·
- SNIP 2026-06
- 1.81LetPub ·
- h-index
- 157OpenAlex ·
- i10-index
- 814OpenAlex ·
- 2-year mean citedness
- 1.12OpenAlex ·
- Self-citation rate
- 12.5%LetPub ·
- Share of gold OA articles
- 64.52%LetPub ·
Volume
- Articles per year
- 60LetPub ·
- Downloads per year (publisher) 2025
- 252,600Publisher website ·
Articles by year OpenAlex count · 1,264 in total · the current year is incomplete
| Year | Articles | Open access | Citations |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2026 | 35 | 23 | 6 |
| 2025 | 62 | 48 | 50 |
| 2024 | 39 | 27 | 96 |
| 2023 | 28 | 17 | 128 |
| 2022 | 31 | 20 | 202 |
| 2021 | 31 | 17 | 320 |
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.
Review & acceptance
Review time and acceptance
Review time from article dates manuscript dates registered with Crossref · to
574 daysMedian, submission to acceptance · P25–P75 396 days – 736 days
- Acceptance to online
- median 27 days (69 articles)
- Submission to online
- median 596 days
- Sample
- 69 articles with submission and acceptance dates (111 in the window); the latest was accepted on
Only articles that were accepted and published are counted, not the time spent on rejected manuscripts, so this usually runs longer than a publisher's "time to first decision".
Other sources
- Submission to first decision
- 11 daysPublisher website ·
- Peer review
- Double anonymous peer reviewPublisher website
Community reports come from authors' own submissions (confidence 0.5) and are not a promise from the journal; for publisher figures, the journal's own definitions apply.
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 3,090 / EUR 2,490 / GBP 2,190 | — | — |
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)
What to prepare4 items from the author guidelines
- Abstract
- 150–250 words
- Keywords
- ≥ 4
- Reference style
- Author–date
- Suggested reviewers
- Optional
Article types accepted1
- editorialDouble-blind peer review This journal follows a double-blind reviewing procedure. This means that the author will remain anonymous to the reviewers throughout p…Length not stated
Policy excerpts from the journal's websiteAI use, Authorship, Conflicts of interest, Data availability, Publication ethics, Open access, Peer review
- AI use Generative AI Images
Please check Springer’s policy on generative AI images and make sure your work adheres to the principles described therein. Back to top
Source ↗Publisher website ·- Authorship Authorship principles
LLMs do not satisfy authorship criteria Model summary
These guidelines describe authorship principles and good authorship practices to which prospective authors should adhere to. Authorship clarified The Journal and Publisher assume all authors agreed with the content and that all gave explicit consent to submit and that they obtained consent from the responsible authorities at the institute/organization where the work has been carried out, before th…
Source ↗Publisher website ·- Conflicts of interest Disclosures and declarations
All authors are requested to include information regarding sources of funding, financial or non-financial interests, study-specific approval by the appropriate ethics committee for research involving humans and/or animals, informed consent if the research involved human participants, and a statement on welfare of animals if the research involved animals (as appropriate). The decision whether such …
Source ↗Publisher website ·- Data availability Data availability statements
Data transparency policy Model summary
All original research must include a data availability statement. This statement should explain how to access data supporting the results and analysis in the article, including links/citations to publicly archived datasets analysed or generated during the study. Please see our full policy here. If it is not possible to share research data publicly, for instance when individual privacy could be com…
Source ↗Publisher website ·- Publication ethics Compliance with Ethical Standards
To ensure objectivity and transparency in research and to ensure that accepted principles of ethical and professional conduct have been followed, authors should include information regarding sources of funding, potential conflicts of interest (financial or non-financial), informed consent if the research involved human participants, and a statement on welfare of animals if the research involved an…
Source ↗Publisher website ·- Open access Open access publishing
To find out more about publishing your work Open Access in Natural Language & Linguistic Theory, including information on fees, funding and licences, visit our Open access publishing page. Back to top
Source ↗Publisher website ·- Peer review Double-blind peer review
Double-blind peer review Model summary
This journal follows a double-blind reviewing procedure. This means that the author will remain anonymous to the reviewers throughout peer review. It is the responsibility of the author to anonymize the manuscript and any associated materials. Author names, affiliations and any other potentially identifying information should be removed from the manuscript text and any accompanying files (such as …
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
- Springer Nature
- Frequency
- 4 issues per year
- ISSN
- 0167-806X
- Electronic ISSN
- 1573-0859
- Official links
- Journal homepage ↗OpenAlex
- Submission system ↗LetPub
- Author guidelines ↗LetPub
FAQ
Frequently asked questions about Natural Language & Linguistic Theory
What CAS zone is Natural Language & Linguistic Theory in?
In the 2025 upgraded edition of the CAS Journal Ranking, Natural Language & Linguistic Theory is in Zone 2 of Literature, and in Zone 2 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 Natural Language & Linguistic Theory?
The latest impact factor listed by LetPub is 0.69; CiteScore 2, h-index 157.
How long does peer review take at Natural Language & Linguistic Theory?
Based on the dates recorded on 69 articles published between October 2024 and October 2026 (the last 24 months), the median time from submission to acceptance is 574 days (interquartile range 396–736 days). Article statistics cover accepted papers only, publisher figures follow the journal's own definitions, and community reports come from authors' own submissions; none is a promise from the journal.
What are the manuscript requirements of Natural Language & Linguistic Theory?
According to the journal's author guidelines: Abstract: 150–250 words; Keywords: ≥ 4; Reference style: Author–date; Suggested reviewers: Optional. A model extracted these from the author guidelines and each was checked against the text; check the latest version on the journal's website before submitting.
Where are the editorial board members of Natural Language & Linguistic Theory based?
Of the 50 board members whose country the journal's board page names, 1 (about 2%) are in mainland China; the countries named most often are United States (23), Germany (5) and Canada (5). Counted from the institutions listed on the board page; for reference only.
Which databases index Natural Language & Linguistic Theory?
According to LetPub and DOAJ records, Natural Language & Linguistic Theory is indexed in SSCI, AHCI and Scopus. The journal's website also lists SCIE, ERIH PLUS and Current Contents; that list has not been checked against each database.
Is Natural Language & Linguistic Theory open access, and what is the APC?
Natural Language & Linguistic Theory is a hybrid journal. For open-access publication: APC about USD 3,090.
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 2026-08-26). Last updated: .