Other meanings of Syntax
Linguistics
Syntax is a peer-reviewed academic journal covering theoretical, descriptive, and experimental research on syntax, the study of sentence structure. Published by Wiley-Blackwell on behalf of the European Association of Syntax, it was established in 1998 and appears quarterly. The journal is indexed in major databases and is known for its focus on formal syntactic theory, including generative grammar, as well as cross-linguistic and diachronic studies.
Syntax publishes original research articles, review articles, and occasional squibs on all aspects of syntactic theory and analysis. The journal was founded in 1998 by linguists Jan Koster and Henk van Riemsdijk, who sought a venue dedicated exclusively to syntax, distinct from broader linguistics journals. It quickly became a leading outlet for work in the generative tradition, including Government and Binding theory, Minimalism, and Head-Driven Phrase Structure Grammar.
Over the years, the journal has expanded its scope to include experimental syntax, psycholinguistic approaches, and corpus-based studies, reflecting broader methodological trends in the field. It also publishes special issues on emerging topics, such as the syntax of sign languages and the syntax-prosody interface.
The journal is edited by an international team of scholars, with a rotating editor-in-chief. It is published by Wiley-Blackwell and is the official journal of the European Association of Syntax (EAS), which organizes the annual European Syntax Meeting. The journal operates under a standard peer-review model, with double-blind review for most submissions.
Access to Syntax is available through institutional subscriptions, and many articles are also available open access through Wiley's OnlineOpen option. The journal adheres to the Committee on Publication Ethics guidelines and maintains a rigorous editorial process.
Syntax is widely regarded as one of the top specialty journals in theoretical linguistics. It is indexed in Scopus, Web of Science, and Linguistics and Language Behavior Abstracts. Its articles are frequently cited in debates on syntactic theory, and the journal has published seminal papers on topics such as wh-movement, binding theory, and phrase structure.
The journal's impact factor, while modest compared to multidisciplinary science journals, is competitive within the linguistics category. It is a preferred venue for syntacticians seeking rigorous peer review and high visibility among specialists.
Beyond its main research articles, Syntax occasionally publishes squibs — short, focused contributions that address a single empirical or theoretical point. The journal has also been a platform for replies and commentaries, fostering scholarly debate. A notable feature is its occasional thematic issues, such as one on the syntax of African American English and another on sign language syntax, which have helped bring underrepresented areas into the mainstream.
The journal's founding editors, Koster and van Riemsdijk, were both prominent figures in Dutch generative linguistics, and their influence shaped the journal's early orientation. The journal also maintains a book review section, though it has been intermittent. For a time, the journal published an annual state-of-the-art review of syntactic research, which was discontinued due to the proliferation of online review venues.
This article focuses on the academic journal Syntax, not the linguistic concept.
Help improve the encyclopedia. Reports go straight to the site manager.