01 Editorial.qxd Editorial At AELFE V (Zaragoza, 14-16 September 2006) I was elected and appointed to take command of Ibérica, the flagship of AELFE. I have been a member of AELFE since its early stages, and of Ibérica’s Editorial Board since July 2000. Having worked with the two previous editors of this journal I cannot but bring them to my memory and praise their achievements. By the second half of the 1990’s, AELFE’s Executive Committee foresaw the need of a Spanish-based academic journal so as to respond to the emergent and promising research on Languages for Specific Purposes carried out by AELFE members. Conferences on LSP became frequent, lecturers with the task of teaching languages for academic and vocational purposes spread throughout Spanish universities, researching interests and outcomes demanded scholarly support … and Ibérica was conceived. Margaret McGinity accepted the challenge as pioneering Editor, showed initiative and worked hard and patiently in laying the keel and building the hull. Jordi Piqué took over at issue no. 5 and, since then, he has been fitting the vessel out neatly and carefully, showing undeniable dedication, expertise and professionalism. Ibérica has also been, and still is, an efficiently-crewed craft. My sincere appreciation to preceding and current Editorial Committees for their commitment, assistance and support. Today, Ibérica is a widely recognized journal among scholars and researchers which covers the multi-faceted nature of LSP. It is published twice a year on a steady basis, indexed in some internationally-accepted lists and aimed at a global audience with varying research expectations but a common interest in the study of languages as applied to different academic and vocational contexts. Ibérica has become very popular outside Spain thanks to the journal itself, to the invited contributions and to AELFE conferences, and many papers have recently been submitted from abroad –hopefully, they will be published in forthcoming issues. I take this opportunity to encourage AELFE members to submit their work, either in the form of “research articles” (8,000 words maximum) or “reviews” (around 1,000 words) on recent publications. Ibérica is also a forum for discussion and, hence, the sections “research notes” (up to 3,000 words approximately) and “interview with …” provide the opportunity for updating the background and listening more closely to relevant scholars in the field. If any AELFE member feels IBÉRICA 13 [2007]: 5-6 5 01 EDITORIAL.qxp 6/4/07 08:49 Página 5 confident and shows expertise in editing a set of papers on a highly topical subject or an issue of particular relevance to LSP, monographs can also be presented to the Editorial board, submitted for review and are especially encouraged. Still, the voyage is intended to be long and there is a lot of work ahead. Based on the solid achievements inherited, my most immediate concern is the consolidation of Ibérica as a worldwide reference journal in LSP scholarship. In so doing, many new, as well as corrective, actions will need to be undertaken: new index lists will be applied for so that they contribute to the “global spread” (quoting Gibson Ferguson’s paper in this issue) of Ibérica; the International Advisory Board will be updated and the Editorial Board enlarged; the “instructions for authors” section will be enhanced so as to provide greater detail; the referees’ evaluation form and assessment process will be improved so that the peer-reviewing outcomes become more specific in the provision of comments and recommendations for further submissions; and, indeed, all suggestions put forward by readers and AELFE members alike will be welcome and taken into consideration. My predecessor Jordi Piqué dropped anchor at issue no. 12 with the hope of letting “new air and new ideas come in and continue our work”. It is time now for this editor and editorial board to heave up, set sail and cater for the seaworthiness of Ibérica, the journal of AELFE. Ana Bocanegra Valle Universidad de Cádiz (Spain) Editor of Ibérica ANA BOCANEGRA VALLE IBÉRICA 13 [2007]: 5-66 01 EDITORIAL.qxp 6/4/07 08:49 Página 6