South African Journal of African Languages

Aims & Scope

The South African Journal of African Languages is a peer-reviewed research journal devoted to the advancement of African (Bantu) and Khoi-San languages and literatures.

Papers, book reviews and polemic contributions of a scientific nature in any of the core areas of linguistics, both theoretical (e.g. syntax, phonology, semantics) and applied (e.g. sociolinguistic topics, language teaching, language policy), and literature, based on original research in the context of the African languages, are welcome.

The journal is the official mouthpiece of the African Language Association of Southern Africa (ALASA), established in 1979.

View Aims & Scope

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Metrics & Ranking

Impact Factor

Year	Value
2025	0.2

SJR (SCImago Journal Rank)

Year	Value
2024	0.236

Quartile

Year	Value
2024	Q1

h-index

Year	Value
2024	13

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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 Arts and Humanities 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.

• A new language policy, old language practices: status planning for African languages in a multilingual South Africa

  Citation: 56

  Authors: Nkonko M.

• Conjunctive and disjunctive verb forms in Setswana

  Citation: 31

  Authors: Denis

• Impact of Zulu on Tsotsitaal

  Citation: 28

  Authors: C. T.

• Phonology of the !XÅ© dialect spoken in Ovamboland and western Kavango

  Citation: 27

  Authors: Terttu

• STRATEGIES FOR ACQUIRING ZULU CONCORD

  Citation: 24

  Authors: Susan M.

• Research methodology for the description of a source text and its translation(s)—a South African perspective

  Citation: 22

  Authors: Alet, Kim

• Xhosa students' attitudes towards Black South African languages at the University of the Western Cape

  Citation: 21

  Authors: Charlyn

• Language contact in African urban settings: The case of Sepitori in Tshwane

  Citation: 21

  Authors: Thabo, Charles C

• Jul'hoan orthography in practice

  Citation: 19

  Authors: Patrick

• Xhosa nicknames

  Citation: 18

  Authors: S. J.

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