About this Research Topic

Background

It is a truism that no natural language is simpler than any other. Yet there is often a practical need to simplify language in many settings: for foreign language learning, for the developmentally challenged, in language contact, trade language, situations where technical vocabulary needs to be tightly controlled for international cooperation (e.g. http://www.asd-ste100.org), and to assist lay people in dealing with medical, legal, and similar jargon, to name just a few.

Information and communication play a central role in our modern daily lives. An abundance of language-based information is available to us through the internet, media (including newspapers, radio, and television), books, signage, and face-to-face interactions. However, this information may not be equally accessible to everyone. For individuals with cognitive disabilities, for example, coping with written or spoken information may pose a considerable challenge, as they often experience difficulties in understanding and responding to language presented in these modalities. For the elderly, meanwhile, the information architecture of mobile phones, web pages, touchscreens and other such interfaces is often bewildering. People need to get information in an accessible manner in order to understand it and act accordingly—the lack of accessible information therefore forms a major barrier to full participation in the community and independent functioning in everyday life (Yalon-Chamovitz, 2009, Collier, Blackstone and Taylor, 2012). Other populations, such as second-language learners, children, immigrants, and elderly people may also benefit from more accessible information. Movements for “plain English” or “plain language” more generally also seek to make content accessible beyond specific disciplines (e.g. removing legalese and jargon from documents).

By simple/simplified language we mean any form of written, signed, or spoken communication that is kept within bounds that are significantly smaller than generally seen in linguistic communication. Reduced vocabulary (only a few hundred to a few thousand items), simplified morphology and syntax, iconicity, and broad reliance on common sense theories (Gordon and Hobbs 2017) are obvious markers of simplification, but we recognize that in many cases (e.g. in spelling reform) no such trivial markers exist.

The present Research Topic in Frontiers in Communication seeks to address the question of Simple and Simplified Languages from a range of perspectives, including its psycholinguistic, sociolinguistic, computational, lexicographic, information-theoretic, and (machine) translation-related aspects. We are interested in contributions addressing any aspect of the use, adaptation, measurement, and theory of simple and simplified languages, including, but not limited to, computational measures of the complexity of language, investigation of pidginization/creolization processes, studies of grammatical or structural simplification, experimental studies examining simplification guidelines, best practices, and communication aides. We particularly welcome papers dealing with natural systems that evolve through language contact, trade, or pedagogical/remedial settings rather than those addressing artificial languages and systems such as Morse code or fingerspelling that rely on a non-simplified host language. The planned focus is on empirical work both in (second) language acquisition and in accessibility improvements that compare expectations to reality; normative approaches, especially in isolation, are considered less relevant, as we consider it an open question whether language use by children and simplified languages work on the same, or very similar, principles.

We welcome review articles, comparative studies, formal models, and scholarly research pertaining to philosophical, social, and legal aspects of accessibility, inclusion and equality in this domain as relating to diverse populations. We particularly welcome studies looking beyond English.

The overarching aim of the Research Topic is to clearly present the range of current research interests and trends in this fascinating and multifaceted interdisciplinary field of study. We aim to enrich knowledge of the field, provide a more accurate, up-to-date definition of language simplification, identify directions for future research and ways of sharing knowledge across disciplines, and arouse the interest of new researchers.

Keywords: Basic vocabulary, simplification, accessibility, intelligibility, pidgins and creoles, L2 acquisition, "plain language", iconic communication

Important note: All contributions to this Research Topic must be within the scope of the section and journal to which they are submitted, as defined in their mission statements. Frontiers reserves the right to guide an out-of-scope manuscript to a more suitable section or journal at any stage of peer review.

Frequently asked questions

• What is a Research Topic?

  Frontiers' Research Topics are collaborative hubs built around an emerging theme.Defined, managed, and led by renowned researchers, they bring communities together around a shared area of interest to stimulate collaboration and innovation.

  Unlike section journals, which serve established specialty communities, Research Topics are pioneer hubs, responding to the evolving scientific landscape and catering to new communities.

• Why does Frontiers publish Research Topics? 

  The goal of Frontiers' publishing program is to empower research communities to actively steer the course of scientific publishing. Our program was implemented as a three-part unit with fixed field journals, flexible specialty sections, and dynamically emerging Research Topics, connecting communities of different sizes and maturity.

  Research Topics originate from the scientific community. Many of our Research Topics are suggested by existing editorial board members who have identified critical challenges or areas of interest in their field.

• Why are Research Topics important for journals?

  As an editor, Research Topics will help you build your journal, as well as your community, around emerging, cutting-edge research. As research trailblazers, Research Topics attract high-quality submissions from leading experts all over the world.

  A thriving Research Topic can potentially evolve into a new specialty section if there is sustained interest and a growing community around it.

• How do we ensure the quality of articles within Research Topics?

  Each Research Topic must be approved by the specialty chief editor, and they fall under the editorial oversight of our editorial boards, supported by our in-house research integrity team. The same standards and rigorous peer review processes apply to articles published as part of a Research Topic as for any other article we publish.

    In 2023, 80% of the Research Topics we published were edited or co-edited by our editorial board members, who are already familiar with their journal's scope, ethos, and publishing model. All other topics are guest edited by leaders in their field, each vetted and formally approved by the specialty chief editor.

• What are the benefits of publishing my article in a Research Topic?

  Publishing your article within a Research Topic with other related articles increases its discoverability and visibility, which can lead to more views, downloads, and citations. Research Topics grow dynamically as more published articles are added, causing frequent revisiting, and further visibility.

  As Research Topics are multidisciplinary, they are cross-listed in several fields and section journals – increasing your reach even more and giving you the chance to expand your network and collaborate with researchers in different fields, all focusing on expanding knowledge around the same important topic.

  Our larger Research Topics are also converted into ebooks and receive social media promotion from our digital marketing team.

   
• What types of articles can be published in a Research Topic?

  Frontiers offers multiple article types, but it will depend on the field and section journals in which the Research Topic will be featured. The available article types for a Research Topic will appear in the drop-down menu during the submission process.

  Check available article types here 

• Can I suggest a new Research Topic? 

  Yes, we would love to hear your ideas for a topic. Most of our Research Topics are community-led and suggested by researchers in the field. Our in-house editorial team will contact you to talk about your idea and whether you’d like to edit the topic. If you’re an early-stage researcher, we will offer you the opportunity to coordinate your topic, with the support of a senior researcher as the topic editor. 

  Suggest your topic here 

• Who leads a Research Topic? 

  A team of guest editors (called topic editors) lead their Research Topic. This editorial team oversees the entire process, from the initial topic proposal to calls for participation, the peer review, and final publications.

  The team may also include topic coordinators, who help the topic editors send calls for participation, liaise with topic editors on abstracts, and support contributing authors. In some cases, they can also be assigned as reviewers.

• What is the role of a topic editor?

  As a topic editor (TE), you will take the lead on all editorial decisions for the Research Topic, starting with defining its scope. This allows you to curate research around a topic that interests you, bring together different perspectives from leading researchers across different fields and shape the future of your field. 

   

  You will choose your team of co-editors, curate a list of potential authors, send calls for participation and oversee the peer review process, accepting or recommending rejection for each manuscript submitted.

• What support will I receive when editing a new Research Topic? 

  As a topic editor, you're supported at every stage by our in-house team. You will be assigned a single point of contact to help you on both editorial and technical matters. Your topic is managed through our user-friendly online platform, and the peer review process is supported by our industry-first AI review assistant (AIRA).

• As a junior researcher, can I be involved in editing a Research Topic? 

  If you’re an early-stage researcher, we will offer you the opportunity to coordinate your topic, with the support of a senior researcher as the topic editor. This provides you with valuable editorial experience, improving your ability to critically evaluate research articles and enhancing your understanding of the quality standards and requirements for scientific publishing, as well as the opportunity to discover new research in your field, and expand your professional network.

• Can I get a certificate for editing a Research Topic?

  Yes, certificates can be issued on request. We are happy to provide a certificate for your contribution to editing a successful Research Topic.

• Who will I collaborate with?

  Research Topics thrive on collaboration and their multi-disciplinary approach around emerging, cutting-edge themes, attract leading researchers from all over the world.

• How long does it take to publish a Research Topic?

  As a topic editor, you can set the timeline for your Research Topic, and we will work with you at your pace. Typically, Research Topics are online and open for submissions within a few weeks and remain open for participation for 6 – 12 months. Individual articles within a Research Topic are published as soon as they are ready.

  Find out more about our Research Topics

• What fee support is available to authors publishing in a Research Topic?

  Our fee support program ensures that all articles that pass peer review, including those published in Research Topics, can benefit from open access – regardless of the author's field or funding situation.

  Authors and institutions with insufficient funding can apply for a discount on their publishing fees. A fee support application form is available on our website.

• Will there be a printed version of my RT?

  In line with our mission to promote healthy lives on a healthy planet, we do not provide printed materials. All our articles and ebooks are available under a CC-BY license, so you can share and print copies.