Focus and Scope

Focus and Scope

Bahastra is a peer-reviewed academic journal that publishes scholarly research in language, literature, culture, literacy, and language and literature education. The journal places particular emphasis on Indonesian perspectives while welcoming comparative, cross-cultural, and interdisciplinary studies related to global contexts.

Bahastra positions language, literature, culture, and education as interconnected fields of inquiry. The journal welcomes studies that examine local and national phenomena in relation to broader theoretical, methodological, and international debates. It seeks to promote scholarly works that connect local knowledge, cultural diversity, literacy practices, educational innovation, and contemporary global issues.

Bahastra publishes original research articles that address theoretical, empirical, and applied issues in the following areas:

1. Language Studies, Linguistics, and Literacy

This area focuses on the study of language in social, cultural, educational, and communicative contexts. Topics include, but are not limited to:

  • Applied linguistics and sociolinguistics;
  • Discourse analysis, pragmatics, and critical discourse studies;
  • Language variation, multilingualism, and intercultural communication;
  • Indonesian language studies and comparative linguistic studies;
  • Literacy studies, language policy, and language planning;
  • Local and indigenous languages in relation to identity, education, and cultural sustainability.

This scope encourages studies that explore Indonesian language phenomena while engaging with global linguistic frameworks and contemporary language issues.

2. Literature, Culture, and Society

This area examines literature as a cultural, social, historical, and aesthetic practice. Topics include, but are not limited to:

  • Literary criticism, literary theory, and comparative literature;
  • Indonesian literature and world literature;
  • Oral literature, local traditions, folklore, and cultural heritage;
  • Postcolonial, ecological, gender, identity, and cultural studies;
  • Literature, collective memory, and social transformation;
  • Digital literature, popular literature, and contemporary literary practices.

The journal welcomes studies that position Indonesian literary and cultural traditions within wider theoretical and comparative discussions, especially those that contribute to understanding cultural identity, social change, and global literary discourse.

3. Language and Literature Education

This area focuses on the teaching, learning, curriculum, and assessment of language and literature in various educational contexts. Topics include, but are not limited to:

  • Language and literature teaching methodologies;
  • Indonesian language and literature education;
  • Curriculum development, instructional design, and learning materials;
  • Digital literacy, multimodal learning, and technology-enhanced education;
  • Teacher education, professional development, and classroom-based research;
  • Assessment, evaluation, and pedagogical innovation in language and literature learning.

This scope encourages research that connects pedagogical practices with linguistic, literary, cultural, and technological developments, particularly in Indonesian educational contexts and in relation to global educational issues.

4. Interdisciplinary Studies in Language, Literature, Culture, and Education

Bahastra also welcomes interdisciplinary research that connects language, literature, culture, and education with broader fields such as digital humanities, media studies, environmental humanities, cultural studies, communication, social sciences, and educational technology.

This area includes studies on:

  • Language, literature, and digital transformation;
  • Cultural heritage, local wisdom, and educational innovation;
  • Language and literature in media, technology, and society;
  • Multimodal, digital, and cultural approaches to language and literary studies;
  • Humanities-based responses to contemporary social, ecological, and educational challenges.