Language and Cognitive Processes was first published in 1985. Our intention was to stimulate discussion of theoretical, experimental, and methodological issues relevant to a multi-disciplinary perspective on the psychology of language. Over the last 15 years there have been many changes in the ways in which research ideas are communicated. In order to be responsive to these changes we have drawn up a revised editorial policy which we hope will benefit both our authors and our readers.

We invite prospective authors to choose from a range of formats when considering Language and Cognitive Processes as an outlet for their research. We shall continue with our current format of conventional, unsolicited, articles and occasional special issues. But in addition, we invite submission of short papers (3000 words max) which, although reviewed to the same standards as our other submissions, will be processed considerably faster. These papers should consist of original work which has not been published, or is not submitted, elsewhere. They may alternatively consist of commentaries on other published articles, whether published in this or another journal. Commentaries should contain new data that address the findings of the original article, or novel theoretical interpretations of those original findings. We believe that the field has much to gain from the discussion of previously published findings and the debates that this can foster. We hope that this new format will further encourage such debate. Prospective authors should refer to the Instructions to Authors for details of electronic submission.

To further stimulate debate, we invite also the submission of theoretical 'position papers' that present novel theoretical perspectives on either established or novel phenomena of relevance to the psychology of language. These papers may be used to package together into a single article a theoretical position that has evolved across a number of prior publications. Alternatively, they may be used to present novel ideas that have not been expressed elsewhere. Only papers which represent a genuine advance in the state of the science, or its interpretation, will be considered; reviews of the field, or of a single contribution to the field, will not be considered. Position papers will be reviewed according to the same standards as our other submissions. Our intention is to foster genuine debate and to provide an outlet for theoretical innovation and discussion.

We look forward to the greater variety in the editorial process that these changes will bring about, and to the greater variety that these changes will bring to the pages of Language and Cognitive Processes.
The Managing Editors.