Digital Studies in Language and Literature

About this journal

Objective

Digital Studies in Language and Literature (DSLL) is a peer-reviewed, interdisciplinary publication dedicated to advancing research on the intersection of digital technology, language, and literature. The journal provides a platform for scholars, researchers, educators, and practitioners to explore and share their insights, discoveries, and innovations in this evolving field. DSLL welcomes empirical studies, review articles (including meta-analysis and narrative synthesis), case studies, theoretical articles, and studies on research methods. The scope encompasses studies conducted using quantitative, qualitative, or mixed methods; studies that are either text- or learning-based; studies investigating the creation, application, or influence of technological tools and instruments; and studies that observe the occurrence of an event or feature or examine the relationships between phenomena. We encourage interdisciplinary research that bridges the gap between digital technology, language, and literature, as well as insightful discussions on the challenges and opportunities posed by the digital era in the realms of linguistic and literary studies. The journal especially welcomes research that examines populations, regions, settings, or topics that have been ignored or less represented in mainstream academia, uses innovative methods, generates transformative evidence, informs practice and policy making, and adopts unique perspectives.

For more information please see our Call for Papers.

Topics

Digital Studies in Language and Literature invites submissions covering a wide range of topics, and below are some example topics and research strands that fall into the scope of this journal:

Artificial intelligence (AI) in language and literature
Big data, text/data mining, and visualisation
Computational linguistics
Computer-assisted language learning, teaching, and literary studies
Corpus linguistics
Digital approaches to world and comparative literature
Digital archiving and digital textual analysis
Large-scale literary corpora and distant reading interpretations
Instructional technology in language and literary education
Literary and linguistic computing
Mobile-assisted language learning (MALL) and mobile literary applications
Multimodality
Natural language processing
Social media in language education
Technology-driven research in translation
Topic modeling

Article formats

Original Research Articles, Review Articles, Book Reviews, Brief Reports, Methodological Forum (including Tutorial)

Your Benefits

Open access publication for immediate and wide spreading: All articles published open access with a CC BY 4.0 license without costs for the author.
Research freely available for all to read and download
Rapid online publication of contributions as "ahead-of-issue publication": DOI-citable, forward-linked articles for quickest possible visibility for the scientific community
Easy-to-use online submission, peer review, and publication system
Every article easily discoverable because of Search Engine Optimization (SEO) and comprehensive abstracting and indexing services
Secure archiving by De Gruyter and the independent archiving service Portico

Open Access
Literary Awards as Humanities Data: Measuring Prestige in the Digital Age – an Interview with James English

August 29, 2025

Xiaohe Rui, James F. English

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The utilisation of literary prizes within the domain of Digital Humanities signifies the emergence of a novel metric for evaluating prestige. In this interview, Xiaohe Rui and James English discussed the development of the field, as well as the challenges in bridging the disciplines, ethics and accessibility of prize data used in Digital Humanities. English introduced his research team’s work on literary data, using tools such as Python, Tableau, Gephi and t-SNE to generate insights and foster a dynamic, peer-driven learning environment that may offer greater pedagogical value than traditional English classes. He also emphasized that in order to comprehend literary prestige in the present age, it is necessary to examine the manner in which cultural value is disseminated across a variety of media platforms. This interdisciplinary, data-driven approach, English suggested, will persist as a vital and engaging niche within the domain of literary studies.
Open Access
A Survey-Based Analysis About Consequential Risk of Errors and Ethical Complexities in the Use of AI-Powered Machine Translation in High-Stakes Situations

August 1, 2025

Binhua Wang

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The availability of AI tools in recent years has led to increased use of automatic AI-powered machine translation (AI-MT) in various sectors. While AI-MT might be useful to support language diversity and enhance cross-lingual information access, the use of AI-MT involves consequential risk of errors and serious ethical issues, particularly when they are used in high-stakes situations such as government public services that matters to the rights, benefits and well-being of the public. Through analysis based on a survey about consequences in the use of AI-MT in government public services, this article reveals the hidden risk of errors and ethical complexities in using AI-MT, which have been overlooked by the non-professional users and the public. Through reflections on the status quo and by drawing upon relevant discussions, the article discusses the ethical issues in the use of AI-MT and proposed tentative principles for the formulation of guidelines on proper, responsible and ethical use of AI-MT.
Open Access
A Synthetic Review of MALL Research: Artifact, Environment, and Task

August 4, 2025

Sima Khezrlou, Glenn Stockwell

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Mobile-assisted language learning (MALL) has emerged as a pivotal approach to augmenting the language learning journey for second language learners, leading to a proliferation of research studies in this field. This study conducts a review of MALL research methodologies, categorizing them under three key elements: artifacts, learning environments, and tasks. Through this analysis, we identify critical gaps in prior research, including an overemphasis on digital artifacts at the expense of physical ones, the neglect of integrating mobile technologies in classroom environments, and the lack of methodological rigor in measuring MALL effectiveness. We conclude that while MALL research highlights positive language learning outcomes, there is a need for standardized methodologies that account for pedagogical and technological variables. Implications include recommendations for future MALL studies to incorporate robust research designs, control extraneous variables, and integrate adaptive learning technologies to enhance second language acquisition.
Open Access
A Systematic Review of the Role of Artificial Intelligence in Second Language Writing Education

November 10, 2025

Ying Luo, Yuwei Xia, Xiaofei Lu

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Second language (L2) writing education is undergoing rapid transformation with the increasing integration of artificial intelligence (AI) tools. While research has explored AI applications across diverse educational domains, there remains a lack of systematic reviews addressing the implementation, benefits, challenges, and emerging trends of AI integration in L2 writing education. This review synthesizes 39 empirical studies published between 2019 and 2024, guided by three central questions: (1) What AI tools have been employed, and how have they been integrated into L2 writing education? (2) What benefits and challenges are associated with their use? (3) What emerging trends are shaping the future of AI integration in L2 writing education? Our findings reveal that three major tool types – automated writing evaluation systems, large language models, and specialized writing assistants – are predominantly used to support writing processes, provide feedback, and enhance learner engagement. Most tools were integrated through teacher-guided designs, highlighting the importance of structured mediation. While learners reported gains in grammar accuracy, motivation, and revision ownership, challenges included over-reliance, limited development of higher-order skills, and ethical concerns. Emerging trends point to a shift from surface-level correction toward deeper, metacognitive uses of AI and the embedding of AI in genre-based and reflective pedagogies. However, these developments remain uneven and contingent on instructional design. This review concludes by advocating for theory-informed, equity-oriented integration of AI tools, positioning them not as substitutes for instruction, but as mediational actors within a broader pedagogical ecology.
Open Access
Temporal Dynamics of Emotion and Cognition in Human Translation: Integrating the Task Segment Framework and the HOF Taxonomy

May 23, 2025

Michael Carl

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This article presents a framework for modeling the human mind during translation, based on empirical data. It argues that three interrelated layers of mental processing operate simultaneously which can be detected in behavioral data: routinized/automated sequences reflected in fluent translation behavior; cognitive/reflective processes indicated by extended keystroke pauses; and affective/emotional states, which manifest in distinctive typing and eye-tracking patterns. Drawing on data from the CRITT Translation Process Research Database (TPR-DB), the article demonstrates how the temporal dynamics of keystrokes and gaze behavior can be linked to these underlying mental strata. The proposed embedded generative model is situated within broader theoretical contexts, including dual-process theories and Robinson’s (2023) ideosomatic theory of translation. In doing so, the article offers a novel empirical foundation for advancing theoretical developments in Cognitive Translation Studies.
Open Access
Big Five Personalities Across 200 Years: A Large-Scale Study on the Description of Male- and Female-Dominated Occupations

August 29, 2025

Zihan Qiu, Li Zhang, Lei Lei

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The present study aims to investigate the issue of Big Five personalities from the perspective of gendered-segregated occupations. Descriptions of major male- and female-dominated occupations across 200 years were examined in a large-scale syntactically annotated corpus. Some results of interest were found. First, for both male- and female-dominated occupations, Agreeableness was found the most frequently occurring trait category, while Neuroticism was the least frequently occurring one. Second, in terms of the trends of the use of the Big Five traits, the past two centuries witnessed an overall drop in Agreeableness traits and a growth in Neuroticism traits for both male- and female dominated occupations. For Extraversion, Openness, and Conscientiousness, their trends differed between the two gendered occupational groups. Possible reasons for our findings, such as those pertaining to historical background, sociocultural environments, and implicit public perceptions, are offered. Significance of our work is also discussed.
Open Access
Modeling Character in Translation: Computational and Qualitative Insights from Wuxia Fan Translations

November 28, 2025

Mengyuan Zhou

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This exploratory interdisciplinary study investigates how fan translations on digital platforms reshape the portrayal of literary characters, using Jin Yong’s A Hero Born: The Legend of the Condor Heroes (射雕英雄传) as a case study. Grounded in a framework combining Lefevere’s rewriting theory, Jenkins’ convergence culture, and the Five-Factor Model of personality, the research treats fan translation as a collective cultural rewriting that unfolds through participatory digital discourse. The study integrates a computational analysis of characters’ Big Five personality traits with a qualitative analysis of online fan discussions. This mixed-methods approach reveals how a digital community’s cultural and ideological stances shape its translation choices and character interpretations. The findings suggest that fan translations are culturally mediated transformations driven by community engagement. These translations exhibit observable changes in character personality traits that correspond to the fan community’s values and interpretations. By extending Lefevere’s framework into the realm of participatory culture, this study develops a new methodology for analyzing how characters are received and reconstructed across different translations. The research contributes to both translation studies and digital humanities by demonstrating how online communities collectively negotiate and reinterpret literary characters within their specific cultural contexts, thus offering valuable insights into translation as a collaborative cultural practice in the digital age.

Issue 0

Issue 1

Issue 1-2

Digital Studies in Language and Literature publishes special and thematic issues focussed on important and emerging topics in the field of study. The journal has established a rigorous process to ensure that any special issue manuscripts follow the same high-quality standards and peer review processes as regular manuscripts. For further information on the journal’s peer review policy please see the "Instructions for Authors".

Call for Papers

Submit Manuscript

Submission

You can easily submit your manuscript online. Simply go to http://mc.manuscriptcentral.com/dsll and you will be guided through the whole submission and publishing process.

Please contact dsll@degruyterbrill.com in case of any questions.

For more information please see our Call for Papers.

In brief

Fully gold open access journal
All articles are published under a CC BY 4.0 license.
Authors retain copyright.
APC waived (until 2028) due to the support of Chongqing University.

Your benefits of publishing with us

Open access publication for immediate and wide spreading: All articles published open access with a CC BY 4.0 license without costs for the author.
Research freely available for all to read and download
Rapid online publication of contributions as "ahead-of-issue publication": DOI-citable, forward-linked articles for quickest possible visibility for the scientific community
Easy-to-use online submission, peer review, and publication system
Every article easily discoverable because of Search Engine Optimization (SEO) and comprehensive abstracting and indexing services
Secure archiving by De Gruyter and the independent archiving service Portico

Submission process

Please format your manuscript according to the Instructions for Authors.

The journal operates a double-anonymized peer review process.

All initial submissions are checked for plagiarism via Crossref Similarity Check.

Submissions are sent to two reviewers. You will be informed by email if your manuscript has been accepted or rejected or if it requires further attention. Every effort is made to respond to authors in a timely manner.

Please note

Before submitting your article, please have a look at our Publication Ethics Statement and the journal’s License to Publish.

If you have any general questions, please visit our FAQ page for journal authors.

We look forward to receiving your manuscript!

Editors-in-Chief

Qiyang Mo, Chongqing University, China

Shaofeng Li, The Hong Kong Polytechnic University, Hong Kong, China

Albert D. Pionke, University of Alabama, USA

Executive Editor

Jiang Wang, Chongqing University, China

Associate Editors

Bronson Hui, University of Maryland, USA

Bei Fan, Chongqing University, China

Consulting Editors

Charles Bernstein, University of Pennsylvania, USA

James English, University of Pennsylvania, USA

Andy (Xuesong) Gao, University of New South Wales, Australia

Massimo Leone, University of Turin, Italy

Li Wei, University College London, UK

Editorial Office

Huixin Wang

E-mail: dsll@degruyterbrill.com

Editorial Board

Joël Bellassen, Institut National des Langues et Civilisations Orientales, France

Catherine Caws, University of Victoria, Canada

Alison Chapman, University of Victoria, Canada

Nama Didier Dieudonne, Université de Maroua, Cameroon

Irina Elgort, Victoria University of Wellington, New Zealand

Elisa Gironzetti, University of Maryland, USA

Marta González-Lloret, University of Hawaiʻi at Mānoa, USA

ZhaoHong Han, Columbia University, USA

Guangwei Hu, The Hong Kong Polytechnic University, Hong Kong, China

Feng Jiang, Beihang University, China

Zhuo Jing-Schmidt, University of Oregon, USA

Lawrence Jun Zhang, University of Auckland, New Zealand

Greg Kessler, Ohio University, USA

Chun Lai, The University of Hong Kong, Hong Kong, China

Lei Lei, Shanghai International Studies University, China

Defeng Li, University of Macau, Macau, China

Heng Li, Sichuan International Studies University, China

Yongyi Li, Chongqing University, China

Dilin Liu, University of Alabama, USA

Xiaofei Lu, The Pennsylvania State University, USA

Emma Lupano, University of Cagliari, Italy

Dilnar Mellat, Kazakh Ablai Khan University of International Relations and World Languages, Kazakhstan

Qinglong Peng, Shanghai Jiao Tong University, China

Pascual Pérez-Paredes, Universidad de Murcia, Spain

Robert Poole, The University of Alabama, USA

Silvia Pozzi, Università degli Studi di Milano-Bicocca, Italy

Xiaohe Rui, Xi’an International Studies University, China

Paul Spence, King’s College London, UK

Pia Sundqvist, University of Oslo, Norway

Binhua Wang, University of Leeds, UK

Isaiah WonHo Yoo, Sogang University, South Korea

Quan Zhou, Metropolitan State University, USA

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Journal information

Additional information

eISSN:

2943-0607

Language:

English

Publisher:

De Gruyter

Additional information

First published:

July 20, 2024

Publication Frequency:

2 issues per year

Digital Studies in Language and Literature

About this journal

Your Benefits

Call for Papers

Supplementary Materials

Supplementary Materials

Topics

Digital Studies in Language and Literature

Overview

About this journal

Your Benefits

Ahead of Publication / Just Accepted

Issues

Special issues

Call for Papers

Supplementary Materials

Submit

Editorial

Abstracting and Indexing

Supplementary Materials

Supplementary Materials

Topics

Topics

External Links

Bibliographic data