Cite a Journal in Another Language in APA

• Tomas Elliott (Ph.D.)
• Published on 02/07/2024

Here’s a step-by-step guide with detailed instructions on how to cite a journal in another language in APA format, along with an example for clarity.

• Citation Basics: List authors’ names using their last names followed by initials, and include the publication year in parentheses after the author list.
• Article Formatting: Write the article title in sentence case, provide the translated title of the article in square brackets after the original title. Italicize and capitalize the journal title. Include the volume number, and if there’s an issue number, put it in parentheses. Finish with the page numbers.
• DOI Integration: If available, include the Digital Object Identifier (DOI) in square brackets as a full URL beginning with “https://doi.org/.

CITATION ELEMENTS OF JOURNAL IN ANOTHER LANGUAGE

Author(s)

Start the citation by listing the surname of the first author, followed by their initials. For subsequent authors, include their surnames and initials, separated by commas. Finally, add the surname and initials of the last author. Ensure all authors are listed in the order they appear in the original source.

Year of Publication

Enclose the year of publication in round brackets after the authors’ names. This information provides context for the article’s timeline and helps readers locate the source.

Title of Article

Provide the title of the article exactly as it appears in the original language. Following the original title, include the translated title enclosed in square brackets. This is written in sentence case. This practice ensures accessibility for readers who may not be fluent in the original language.

Title of Journal

Italicize the title of the journal where the article was published. Capitalize the first letter of each word in the journal title, except for linking words such as “and,” “of,” “the,” “for.” The journal title serves as a crucial identifier for locating the source within scholarly databases and libraries.

Volume and Issue Number

After the title of the journal, italicize the volume number and include the issue number, if applicable, separated by a comma. This information aids readers in locating the specific edition of the journal that contains the article.

Page Extent

Indicate the page numbers where the article appears within the journal. Provide the page range to direct readers to the precise location of the article within the publication.

DOI (Digital Object Identifier)

Conclude the citation with the DOI, if available, preceded by “https://doi.org/.” The DOI provides a permanent link to the article online and facilitates access for readers, especially in digital environments.

Author Name Format: Different languages and cultures may have variations in the formatting of author names. Ensure that you accurately follow the conventions of the language in which the article was originally published when listing authors in your citation.  Verify DOI Accessibility: Ensure that the DOI (Digital Object Identifier) provided in the citation is accessible and leads to the correct article. Test the DOI link to confirm that it directs users to the full-text version of the article or its abstract. If the DOI link is inactive or leads to an incorrect destination, try searching for the article using alternative methods or platforms, such as academic databases or the journal’s website, and update the citation accordingly. Journal Abbreviations: Some journals may have abbreviated titles commonly used in academic citations. If the journal you’re citing has an abbreviated form, ensure you use the correct abbreviation according to APA guidelines.  Check for Official Translations: Some journals or publishers may provide official translations of their articles’ titles. Before creating your citation, check if the journal or publisher offers translated versions of the article metadata. Using official translations can help maintain consistency and reliability in your citation, as they are likely to be professionally translated and accurately reflect the original content.

EXAMPLE OF JOURNAL IN ANOTHER LANGUAGE

Citation	Álvarez, M. J., López-García, P., & Ramírez-Fernández, S. (2023). Estrategias de intervención para el manejo del estrés laboral en profesionales de la salud [Intervention strategies for managing occupational stress in healthcare professionals]. Salud Mental y Bienestar, 15(2), 87–95. https://doi.org/10.1234/smb.2023.001
Structure	Author Surname, Initial., Subsequent Author(s) Surname(s), Initial(s)., & Final Author Surname, Initial(s). (Year). Title of article [Translated title]. Title of Journal, Vol(issue), page extent. https://doi.org/DOI