An interdisciplinary systematic literature review on linguacultural profiling in academia

Language and culture play an important role in society. There are several reports on the growing use of language and cultural profiling in academia that are often neglected. Given the need for inclusivity and diversity in the workplace, topics on linguistic profiling in workplaces, especially in academia, require revisiting. Before revisiting this topic, this study conducted a systematic literature review to assess the depth of the literature and scholarly discussions across academic disciplines. This systematic review synthesizes research on linguacultural profiling in academia to identify key themes and research gaps. Following PRISMA 2020 guidelines, we searched Scopus, Web of Science, and ERIC (2017–2024) for peer-reviewed articles on lingua-cultural profiling in academic settings. Two independent reviewers screened all studies. Inter-rater reliability was assessed using Cohen’s Kappa. The obtained κ value of 0.87 indicated almost perfect agreement between reviewers, demonstrating a high level of consistency in the study selection process. Quality was appraised using CASP criteria. After analyzing these studies, five major themes emerged. While research documents the prevalence of linguacultural bias in academia, substantial gaps remain in empirical evidence, intersectional analysis, and practical solutions. Future research must employ quantitative, interdisciplinary, and intersectional approaches. Findings from the study were crucial to drawing key conclusions in this research.