Theme Collection Proposals

Cadernos de Linguística is an open-access journal published by the Brazilian Linguistics Association - Abralin. The journal welcomes proposals for thematic collections on broad and current topics in Linguistics. Beginning in 2027, thematic collections do not constitute separate journal issues. They are organized as thematic sections within the journal's single annual volume. Articles belonging to a thematic collection are published individually and continuously as soon as they complete the editorial and production processes; publication does not wait for the collection as a whole to be completed. Each article is identified by the corresponding thematic section in the volume's table of contents, in its metadata, and in the published article.

The aim of each thematic collection is to provide an authoritative and original synthesis that highlights recent developments while laying the groundwork for future research, applications, and policy decisions.

Scientists from any part of the world are welcome to submit a proposal, and it is not necessary to be affiliated with Abralin. Submissions from scientists at any stage of their careers are accepted, provided they can demonstrate expertise and experience in their field. Proposals must guarantee at least ten articles by invited authors, with provisional titles, authorship, and a brief description of each article's content. Although not mandatory, proposals should also include a public call for papers. All manuscripts submitted to a thematic collection will be evaluated through the Open Peer Review system, in a process coordinated by the proponents.

Thematic collection proposals are evaluated by members of the journal's Editorial Board. The editor will recommend acceptance, rejection, or changes following the review process. If changes are required, a revised proposal must be submitted within two weeks.

If a proposal is accepted, the guest editing process begins. Guest Editors are responsible for inviting authors, ensuring that contributions are submitted according to the established schedule, organizing a Cad_Lin Online Seminar, ensuring the quality of scientific content, and managing the peer review process via the Open Journal Systems (OJS). Guest Editors are also required to provide an introductory article that provides both expert and general readers with the appropriate context for the topic.

For any queries, contact cadlin@abralin.org.

Why guest edit a thematic collection?

Editing a thematic collection for Abralin's Cadernos de Linguística is a significant investment of time and effort, but it can also be an enriching process with many advantages. Guest-editing a thematic collection offers an opportunity to develop a collection on a topic of your choice and experience the following benefits:

1. Influence and steer thought in your field by creating a new synthesis.
2. Accept the intellectual challenge of thinking extensively and broadly about your field.
3. Bring together various contributions from multiple topic areas to reach across traditional disciplines.
4. Promote an emerging research topic and create a long-lasting resource for your field.
5. Facilitate the exchange of competing ideas and points of view.
6. Use a flexible format and consider novel articles, such as new speculative ideas, policy-related work, or review/research hybrid papers.
7. Gain academic standing by having your name associated with a landmark resource that will be utilized and cited for years to come.
8. Connect with other top scientists and learn about research not directly related to your area of expertise.
9. Gain editorial experience by commissioning content, managing the peer review process, and making decisions on papers, with full support from Cad_Lin's Editorial Board members.
10. Reach a broad and relevant international readership through open access.
11. Support the scientific community by working with a not-for-profit organization from the Global South dedicated to promoting excellence in science.

Submitting a proposal

To submit a proposal, please fill out the proposal form. Before submitting, please ensure that all authors have given their consent to participate. Keep in mind that the proposal may be rejected, or changes may be requested, so inform all authors that their involvement may not be necessary.

Recommendations for preparing a proposal

Here are some recommendations to consider while preparing a proposal:

1. Proposals on emerging and interdisciplinary topics are highly encouraged. The core subject must be within linguistics, but a small amount of content from other fields may be included. The collection should contribute something new to the field.
2. Carefully consider the diversity of authorship to ensure that papers thoroughly address the topic and that there is no overlap. Invite authors from different parts of the world, avoiding multiple authors from the same university.
3. Utilize the journal's scope to introduce new perspectives and collaborations. Consider recommending new co-authorships and include input from individuals with differing viewpoints to present both sides of a debate.
4. Ensure that the collection title, article titles, and abstracts are concise, clear, and appealing to a broad audience. Reviewers should be able to identify the paper's scientific novelty and interest based on the abstract alone. Avoid using long, descriptive, or overly specific titles.
5. All authors should have agreed to contribute before submitting the proposal. If an obvious candidate has not been included, please explain why.
6. The Guest Editors may only be the lead or final author on one paper each and co-author on one paper each, in addition to the Introduction.

Structure of a thematic collection

The journal offers flexibility in the types of articles it publishes for each thematic collection. When submitting, authors can choose from a list of article types, but there is ample opportunity for a variety of contributions within these categories.

Introduction

The introduction is a crucial component of the thematic collection, and it is usually written by the guest editorial team. A well-written introduction is essential to making the topic accessible to readers and demonstrating its significance.

A compelling introduction should provide an overview of the articles and set the context for the thematic collection as a whole, outlining the topics covered by each paper. A brief preface, written by a leader in the field, may also be included at the editors' discretion.

Papers

Cadernos de Linguística accepts submissions in the following categories: Research Report, Registered Report, Theoretical Essay, Literature Review, and Pilot Study.

The majority of the thematic collection will feature research reports that present new ideas or data. These papers must be engaging and understandable to a broad audience, providing a prospective look into the field and exciting readers about its research possibilities. The format is flexible, and papers can fall under any of the categories listed above, provided they contribute something relevant and valuable to the thematic collection as a whole.

It is important to include review papers in the thematic collection, as they help attract a broad audience and explain the topic's importance to other fields of knowledge. Reviews should offer fresh insights into the subject, providing innovative and testable ideas, including constructive discussions and/or criticisms of the area. If appropriate, authors are encouraged to include new data in review articles.

Discussion papers that address specific questions related to the topic and express different ideas and perspectives on the subject at hand are also welcome. The author's viewpoint may be included, but a balanced summary of the topic should always be provided.

All submitted articles must not have been previously published or be under consideration for publication elsewhere.

Cad_Lin receives submissions in any language.

Responsibilities

When submitting a proposal for a thematic collection, the proponents are expected to declare their awareness of Cadernos de Linguística's editorial policies and the guidelines for authors.

Guest Editors play a crucial role in ensuring the cohesion of a thematic collection. They are responsible for defining the topic and the role of each article within the collection. Editors must guide authors, rather than leaving each article entirely to their discretion, to ensure a complementary approach and avoid overlap. It is important to define the boundaries of each article to achieve this goal. Guest Editors should make every effort to cover all significant aspects of the topic while avoiding overlap among articles. To achieve this, they must lay out a 'road map' for the thematic collection and communicate it to all authors as soon as possible, along with any other necessary instructions.

If Guest Editors decide to make a public call for additional manuscripts, they must provide a clear text that outlines the expected contributions, based on the pre-established 'road map,' in addition to the manuscripts already secured. Guest Editors are expected to promote the public call.

Guest Editors must agree on a schedule for the editorial process and ensure that the requirements for paper submission are fulfilled, following the submission guidelines established by the journal.

If Guest Editors opt to have a Cad_Lin Online Seminar, they should be responsible for organizing it. The Seminar may take place in more than one session, at the discretion of the Guest Editors, and may be streamed online via Cad_Lin's YouTube account. Abralin will provide a Zoom account with a capacity for 100 participants so that Guest Editors can organize registration and participation in the Seminar.

Guest Editors will handle the peer review process using our online paper management system and make decisions on the papers with the help of the Editorial Office. In addition to the thematic collection's Guest Editors, at least two referees must evaluate each article. They must strive to meet agreed-upon deadlines, keep the Editorial Office informed of any schedule changes, and request assistance if necessary. The Editorial Office will send reminders to authors and respond to their questions, but the Guest Editors are responsible for keeping the project on track. Delays caused by one author can have significant consequences, causing subsequent contributions to become obsolete and momentum to be lost.

Please contact the Editorial Office for authorization if you need to make any modifications, such as adding a replacement paper for an author who has withdrawn.

As Guest Editors, you are responsible for handling the papers and ensuring that the content meets the journal's high-quality standards. Each paper in the thematic collection must be fresh, scientifically outstanding, and of interest to the public. You may need to reject some papers, so be prepared to do so and inform your authors of the possibility. Guest Editors also assist the Editorial Office in ensuring that all papers adhere to the journal's policies.

When you receive reviews for a manuscript, you must either approve it, reject it, or request revisions. Only approve a paper if you are confident that it is ready for production. The system will generate decision letters automatically, but you must modify the text by filling in specific instructions regarding the reviews. You may want to request that authors cross-cite other articles in the thematic collection. For more information, please read our editor guidelines.

Each accepted article proceeds to production as soon as it is ready. After typesetting, proofreading, and final author approval, it is published immediately in the annual volume under the corresponding thematic section. Publication of an article does not wait for the remaining contributions or for completion of the thematic collection.