Citation Rankings
Highly Cited Researchers
World Highly Cited Researchers CitationSocial Sciences / Linguistics and Literature Rankings 2025
The Citation Rankings (Highly Cited Researchers) highlight the most cited and influential researchers across a vast range of scientific fields, covering 197 main and sub-disciplines, including the Art and Humanities Citation Rankings and Social Sciences and Humanities Citation Rankings. This service, offered exclusively by AD Scientific Index, aims to provide a balanced perspective by excluding data from CERN and other statistical sources that disproportionately favor certain researchers, particularly in the social sciences and humanities. This unique approach addresses the advantages researchers with multi-author publications and CERN involvement hold over others. Furthermore, citation rankings help uncover rule violations and unethical practices within the research community. For more detailed citation analyses, explore the Scientists Last 6 Years Citation Index, Universities Total Citations Rankings 2025, and Universities Last 6 Years Citations Rankings 2025.
* Total Citation Counts Rankings
Ranking Based On Selection :1
Linguistics
Cognitive Science
Politics
Law
Psychology
Citation Metrics
Total
Last 6 Years
Last 6 Years / Total
278,823
76,721
0.275
* Total Citation Counts Rankings
Ranking Based On Selection :2
Applied linguistics
language learning and teaching
language education policy and practice
Citation Metrics
Total
Last 6 Years
Last 6 Years / Total
207,663
42,817
0.206
* Total Citation Counts Rankings
Ranking Based On Selection :3
linguistics
literacy
learning
and video games
Citation Metrics
Total
Last 6 Years
Last 6 Years / Total
143,525
42,192
0.294
* Total Citation Counts Rankings
Ranking Based On Selection :4
second language acquisition
task-based language teaching
Citation Metrics
Total
Last 6 Years
Last 6 Years / Total
140,491
45,175
0.322
* Total Citation Counts Rankings
Ranking Based On Selection :5
Literature studies
Media theory
Citation Metrics
Total
Last 6 Years
Last 6 Years / Total
130,055
35,565
0.273
* Total Citation Counts Rankings
Ranking Based On Selection :6
Applied linguistics
Academic discourse
EAP
discourse analysis
English for Specific
Citation Metrics
Total
Last 6 Years
Last 6 Years / Total
93,813
44,212
0.471
* Total Citation Counts Rankings
Ranking Based On Selection :7
Natural Language Processing
Speech Recognition
Computational Linguistics
Linguistics
Computational Social Science
Citation Metrics
Total
Last 6 Years
Last 6 Years / Total
84,680
44,845
0.530
* Total Citation Counts Rankings
Ranking Based On Selection :8
Trust
Research Methods
Ecommerce
IT Outsourcing
Sociolinguistics
Citation Metrics
Total
Last 6 Years
Last 6 Years / Total
82,479
30,884
0.374
* Total Citation Counts Rankings
Ranking Based On Selection :9
Linguistics
corpus linguistics
English grammar
register
Citation Metrics
Total
Last 6 Years
Last 6 Years / Total
81,318
30,853
0.379
* Total Citation Counts Rankings
Ranking Based On Selection :10
linguistic typology
Caucasian languages
Papuan languages
historical linguistics
language documentation
Citation Metrics
Total
Last 6 Years
Last 6 Years / Total
64,197
15,407
0.240
* Total Citation Counts Rankings
Ranking Based On Selection :11
linguistics
statistics
morphology
cognitive models of language processing
Citation Metrics
Total
Last 6 Years
Last 6 Years / Total
63,885
25,997
0.407
* Total Citation Counts Rankings
Ranking Based On Selection :12
Sociolinguistics
Pragmatics
Discourse Theory
Cultural Anthropology
Philological Hermeneutics
Citation Metrics
Total
Last 6 Years
Last 6 Years / Total
58,253
21,003
0.361
* Total Citation Counts Rankings
Ranking Based On Selection :13
Linguistics
Semantics
Anthropology
Cognitive Science
Psychology
Citation Metrics
Total
Last 6 Years
Last 6 Years / Total
57,700
15,817
0.274
* Total Citation Counts Rankings
Ranking Based On Selection :14
second language acquisition
Citation Metrics
Total
Last 6 Years
Last 6 Years / Total
56,780
17,843
0.314
* Total Citation Counts Rankings
Ranking Based On Selection :15
Genre Analysis
EAP
Discourse studies
Academic writing ...
Citation Metrics
Total
Last 6 Years
Last 6 Years / Total
55,152
17,346
0.315
* Total Citation Counts Rankings
Ranking Based On Selection :16
Literacy
Education
Reading
Teacher Education
Citation Metrics
Total
Last 6 Years
Last 6 Years / Total
54,883
12,321
0.224
* Total Citation Counts Rankings
Ranking Based On Selection :17
Computational Neuroscience
Neurolinguistics
Neuroinformatics
Citation Metrics
Total
Last 6 Years
Last 6 Years / Total
54,878
7,304
0.133
* Total Citation Counts Rankings
Ranking Based On Selection :18
discourse analysis
pragmatics
linguistics
Citation Metrics
Total
Last 6 Years
Last 6 Years / Total
54,228
16,858
0.311
* Total Citation Counts Rankings
Ranking Based On Selection :19
applied linguistics
second language acquisition
sociolinguistics
Citation Metrics
Total
Last 6 Years
Last 6 Years / Total
53,211
15,852
0.298
* Total Citation Counts Rankings
Ranking Based On Selection :20
language creation and development
using gesture to communicate
think
and learn
Citation Metrics
Total
Last 6 Years
Last 6 Years / Total
51,907
19,506
0.376
* Total Citation Counts Rankings
Ranking Based On Selection :21
critical applied linguistics
global spread of English
metrolingual practices
language & popular culture
semiotic assemblages
Citation Metrics
Total
Last 6 Years
Last 6 Years / Total
50,502
20,413
0.404
* Total Citation Counts Rankings
Ranking Based On Selection :22
Linguistics
Cognitive Science
Citation Metrics
Total
Last 6 Years
Last 6 Years / Total
50,482
12,146
0.241
* Total Citation Counts Rankings
Ranking Based On Selection :23
Lingustics
Citation Metrics
Total
Last 6 Years
Last 6 Years / Total
48,608
13,366
0.275
* Total Citation Counts Rankings
Ranking Based On Selection :24
digital literature
Shakespeare
Thomas Morel
Citation Metrics
Total
Last 6 Years
Last 6 Years / Total
48,216
8,504
0.176
* Total Citation Counts Rankings
Ranking Based On Selection :25
Linguistics
Phonetics
Phonology
Speech technology
Citation Metrics
Total
Last 6 Years
Last 6 Years / Total
47,007
17,875
0.380
* Total Citation Counts Rankings
Rankings
292
125
5
Ranking Based On Selection: 1
George Lakoff
Citation Metrics
Total
Last 6 Years
Last 6 Years / Total
278,823
76,721
0.275
Linguistics
Cognitive Science
Politics
Law
Psychology
* Total Citation Counts Rankings
Rankings
735
56
1
Ranking Based On Selection: 2
Jim Coleman
Open University UK
Milton Keynes, United Kingdom
Citation Metrics
Total
Last 6 Years
Last 6 Years / Total
207,663
42,817
0.206
Applied linguistics
language learning and teaching
language education policy and practice
* Total Citation Counts Rankings
Rankings
1,553
689
7
Ranking Based On Selection: 3
James Paul Gee
Citation Metrics
Total
Last 6 Years
Last 6 Years / Total
143,525
42,192
0.294
linguistics
literacy
learning
and video games
* Total Citation Counts Rankings
Rankings
1,612
8
5
Ranking Based On Selection: 4
Rod Ellis
University of Auckland
Auckland, New Zealand
Citation Metrics
Total
Last 6 Years
Last 6 Years / Total
140,491
45,175
0.322
second language acquisition
task-based language teaching
* Total Citation Counts Rankings
Rankings
1,872
42
2
Ranking Based On Selection: 5
Marshall Herbert Mcluhan
Maastricht University
Maastricht, Netherlands
Citation Metrics
Total
Last 6 Years
Last 6 Years / Total
130,055
35,565
0.273
Literature studies
Media theory
* Total Citation Counts Rankings
Rankings
3,542
292
4
Ranking Based On Selection: 6
Ken Hyland
University of East Anglia
Norwich, United Kingdom
Citation Metrics
Total
Last 6 Years
Last 6 Years / Total
93,813
44,212
0.471
Applied linguistics
Academic discourse
EAP
discourse analysis
English for Specific
* Total Citation Counts Rankings
Rankings
4,199
1,990
104
Ranking Based On Selection: 7
Dan Jurafsky
Stanford University
Stanford, United States
Citation Metrics
Total
Last 6 Years
Last 6 Years / Total
84,680
44,845
0.530
Natural Language Processing
Speech Recognition
Computational Linguistics
Linguistics
Computational Social Science
* Total Citation Counts Rankings
Rankings
4,383
2,095
5
Ranking Based On Selection: 8
David Gefen
Drexel University
Philadelphia, United States
Citation Metrics
Total
Last 6 Years
Last 6 Years / Total
82,479
30,884
0.374
Trust
Research Methods
Ecommerce
IT Outsourcing
Sociolinguistics
* Total Citation Counts Rankings
Rankings
4,508
2,151
2
Ranking Based On Selection: 9
Douglas Biber
Northern Arizona University
Flagstaff, United States
Citation Metrics
Total
Last 6 Years
Last 6 Years / Total
81,318
30,853
0.379
Linguistics
corpus linguistics
English grammar
register
* Total Citation Counts Rankings
Rankings
6,687
3,166
16
Ranking Based On Selection: 10
Bernard Comrie
University of California Santa Barbara
Santa Barbara, United States
Citation Metrics
Total
Last 6 Years
Last 6 Years / Total
64,197
15,407
0.240
linguistic typology
Caucasian languages
Papuan languages
historical linguistics
language documentation
* Total Citation Counts Rankings
Rankings
6,749
262
10
Ranking Based On Selection: 11
Harald Baayen
Universität Tubingen
Tübingen, Germany
Citation Metrics
Total
Last 6 Years
Last 6 Years / Total
63,885
25,997
0.407
linguistics
statistics
morphology
cognitive models of language processing
* Total Citation Counts Rankings
Rankings
7,809
39
1
Ranking Based On Selection: 12
Владимир Ильич Карасик Vladimir I. Karasik
Citation Metrics
Total
Last 6 Years
Last 6 Years / Total
58,253
21,003
0.361
Sociolinguistics
Pragmatics
Discourse Theory
Cultural Anthropology
Philological Hermeneutics
* Total Citation Counts Rankings
Rankings
7,931
312
27
Ranking Based On Selection: 13
Anna Wierzbicka
Australian National University
Canberra, Australia
Citation Metrics
Total
Last 6 Years
Last 6 Years / Total
57,700
15,817
0.274
Linguistics
Semantics
Anthropology
Cognitive Science
Psychology
* Total Citation Counts Rankings
Rankings
8,145
3,891
24
Ranking Based On Selection: 14
Susan Gass
Michigan State University
East Lansing, United States
Citation Metrics
Total
Last 6 Years
Last 6 Years / Total
56,780
17,843
0.314
second language acquisition
* Total Citation Counts Rankings
Rankings
8,578
4,090
75
Ranking Based On Selection: 15
John Swales
University of Michigan
Ann Arbor, United States
Citation Metrics
Total
Last 6 Years
Last 6 Years / Total
55,152
17,346
0.315
Genre Analysis
EAP
Discourse studies
Academic writing ...
* Total Citation Counts Rankings
Rankings
8,637
4,127
106
Ranking Based On Selection: 16
P David Pearson
Citation Metrics
Total
Last 6 Years
Last 6 Years / Total
54,883
12,321
0.224
Literacy
Education
Reading
Teacher Education
* Total Citation Counts Rankings
Rankings
8,638
4,128
46
Ranking Based On Selection: 17
Michael Arbib
University of Southern California
Los Angeles, United States
Citation Metrics
Total
Last 6 Years
Last 6 Years / Total
54,878
7,304
0.133
Computational Neuroscience
Neurolinguistics
Neuroinformatics
* Total Citation Counts Rankings
Rankings
8,795
156
12
Ranking Based On Selection: 18
Dominique Maingueneau
Sorbonne Université
Paris, France
Citation Metrics
Total
Last 6 Years
Last 6 Years / Total
54,228
16,858
0.311
discourse analysis
pragmatics
linguistics
* Total Citation Counts Rankings
Rankings
9,072
4,332
12
Ranking Based On Selection: 19
Richard Schmidt
University of Hawaii System
Honolulu, United States
Citation Metrics
Total
Last 6 Years
Last 6 Years / Total
53,211
15,852
0.298
applied linguistics
second language acquisition
sociolinguistics
* Total Citation Counts Rankings
Rankings
9,430
4,508
46
Ranking Based On Selection: 20
Susan Goldin Meadow
University of Chicago
Chicago, United States
Citation Metrics
Total
Last 6 Years
Last 6 Years / Total
51,907
19,506
0.376
language creation and development
using gesture to communicate
think
and learn
* Total Citation Counts Rankings
Rankings
9,868
387
10
Ranking Based On Selection: 21
Alastair Pennycook
Citation Metrics
Total
Last 6 Years
Last 6 Years / Total
50,502
20,413
0.404
critical applied linguistics
global spread of English
metrolingual practices
language & popular culture
semiotic assemblages
* Total Citation Counts Rankings
Rankings
9,874
181
19
Ranking Based On Selection: 22
Luigi Rizzi
Université de Geneve
Geneva, Switzerland
Citation Metrics
Total
Last 6 Years
Last 6 Years / Total
50,482
12,146
0.241
Linguistics
Cognitive Science
* Total Citation Counts Rankings
Rankings
10,445
191
4
Ranking Based On Selection: 23
Peter Trudgill
Université de Fribourg
Fribourg, Switzerland
Citation Metrics
Total
Last 6 Years
Last 6 Years / Total
48,608
13,366
0.275
* Total Citation Counts Rankings
Rankings
10,589
5,044
1
Ranking Based On Selection: 24
John Freeman
University of Detroit Mercy
Detroit, United States
Citation Metrics
Total
Last 6 Years
Last 6 Years / Total
48,216
8,504
0.176
digital literature
Shakespeare
Thomas Morel
* Total Citation Counts Rankings
Rankings
11,009
260
16
Ranking Based On Selection: 25
Paul Boersma
University of Amsterdam
Amsterdam, Netherlands
Citation Metrics
Total
Last 6 Years
Last 6 Years / Total
47,007
17,875
0.380
Linguistics
Phonetics
Phonology
Speech technology