PLL is a generalist journal of literary criticism and scholarship published quarterly at Southern Illinois University Edwardsville. PLL publishes essays on all national literatures and historical periods, book reviews, and reviews of academic and public-facing events related to literary studies. PLL defines the word "language" broadly and welcomes submissions on visual and/or digital languages.
PLL began publication in 1965; its founding editor was Nicholas T. Joost, who was succeeded by Alvin Sullivan until his passing in 1991. The journal was then edited by Dickie Spurgeon from 1991 to 1992, then passed to co-editorship under Jack G. Voller and Brian Abel Ragen until 1997, at which point Professor Ragen edited the journal until his retirement in 2008. Professor Voller returned for five years as editor until his retirement in 2013.
PLL is a member and subscribes to the principles of the Council of Editors of Learned Journals, an MLA allied organization.