Journal of Child Language

Aims & Scope

A key publication in the field, Journal of Child Language publishes articles on all aspects of the scientific study of language behaviour in children, the principles which underlie it, and the theories which may account for it.

The international range of authors and breadth of coverage allow the journal to forge links between many different areas of research including psychology, linguistics, cognitive science and anthropology.

This interdisciplinary approach spans a wide range of interests: phonology, phonetics, morphology, syntax, vocabulary, semantics, pragmatics, sociolinguistics, and any other recognised facet of language study.

Aspects of reading development are considered when there is a clear language component.

The journal normally publishes full-length empirical studies or General Articles as well as shorter Brief Research Reports.

To be appropriate for this journal, articles should include some quantitative data analyses, and articles based on case studies need to have a convincing rationale for this design.

The journal publishes thematic special issues on occasion, the topic and format of which are determined by the editorial team.

View Aims & Scope

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Metrics & Ranking

Impact Factor

Year	Value
2025	1.7
2024	1.70

SJR (SCImago Journal Rank)

Year	Value
2024	0.943

Quartile

Year	Value
2024	Q1

h-index

Year	Value
2024	90

Journal Rank

Year	Value
2024	5326

Journal Citation Indicator

Year	Value
2024	544

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Abstracting & Indexing

Journal is indexed in leading academic databases, ensuring global visibility and accessibility of our peer-reviewed research.

• Scopus
• Google Scholar
• Web of Science

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Subjects & Keywords

Journal’s research areas, covering key disciplines and specialized sub-topics in Psychology and Social Sciences, designed to support cutting-edge academic discovery.

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Most Cited Articles

The Most Cited Articles section features the journal's most impactful research, based on citation counts. These articles have been referenced frequently by other researchers, indicating their significant contribution to their respective fields.

• The ontogenesis of speech acts

  Citation: 918

  Authors: Jerome S.

• The achievement and antecedents of labelling

  Citation: 662

  Authors: Anat, Jerome

• Dual language exposure and early bilingual development

  Citation: 633

  Authors: ERIKA, CYNTHIA, SILVIA, ROSARIO, MELISSA, MARISOL

• Child-directed speech: relation to socioeconomic status, knowledge of child development and child vocabulary skill

  Citation: 579

  Authors: MEREDITH L.

• A cross-language study of prosodic modifications in mothers' and fathers' speech to preverbal infants

  Citation: 578

  Authors: Anne, Traute, Judy, Mechthild, Bénédicte, Ikuko

• Developing language in a developing body: the relationship between motor development and language development

  Citation: 570

  Authors: JANA M.

• Children use syntax to learn verb meanings

  Citation: 489

  Authors: Letitia

• The child language data exchange system

  Citation: 472

  Authors: Brian, Catherine

• The development of conversation between mothers and babies

  Citation: 466

  Authors: Catherine E.

• Wordbank: an open repository for developmental vocabulary data

  Citation: 406

  Authors: MICHAEL C., MIKA, DANIEL, VIRGINIA A.

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