Call for Papers 2025/2026
The Arab Journal of Applied Linguistics invites submissions for a special issue focusing on First and Second Language Limited Print Literacy among children, adolescents, and adults. We welcome contributions that explore limited print literacy among (i) displaced children and adolescents in conflict zones and (ii) refugees and immigrant adults in the Western world and expatriates in the Middle East.
Limited print literacy is defined here as the difficulty individuals experience in decoding or encoding on paper or on screen language that is necessary for their daily or occupational activities. Print literacy in one’s native language or second language has different levels and manifestations in different geographical and cultural contexts. It is evaluated in accordance with various factors such as age, educational background, ethnic background, gender, and communication needs. Limited print literacy may be primarily a consequence of inadequate language teaching, in the case of children, and interrupted formal schooling, in the case of adults.
The Special Issue’s theme could be considered within Critical Applied Linguistics, but we suggest the term Committed Applied Linguistics, which we consider more adequate. Committed Applied Linguistics is devoted to defending and preserving the fundamental human right to literacy, i.e. the essential cornerstone of Education. Research on limited print literacy seeks to expose linguistic injustices and their multifaceted causes and consequences. It aims at warding off the far reaching consequences these injustices have on individuals, communities, nations, and world peace. The mission of Committed Applied Linguistics, we suggest, is to contribute to defending and preserving Human Rights against language-related Human Wrongs.
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