Ethical Guidelines for the Author(s)

The Pakistan Journal of Linguistics (PJL) upholds the highest standards of publication ethics. These ethical guidelines are mandatory for all authors submitting manuscripts to the journal. Violation of these principles may result in penalties, including suspension or revocation of publishing privileges.

Section Guidelines
1. Reporting Standards • Authors must ensure that the research report contains sufficient details and references to allow replication or verification of results.
• Fraudulent, fabricated, or knowingly inaccurate statements are unethical and unacceptable.
2. Originality and Plagiarism • Authors must submit only original work, properly acknowledging all sources through accurate citation.
• Plagiarism, in any form, including self-plagiarism or verbatim reuse of prior work, is strictly prohibited.
• Direct quotations must be enclosed in quotation marks and appropriately cited.
3. Declaration • Authors must submit an undertaking declaring that the manuscript represents original work and is not under consideration elsewhere.
• A manuscript previously published as an abstract or report (e.g., in conference proceedings) may be submitted if significantly expanded.
• For co-authored papers, all authors must confirm substantial contribution and approve the final version before submission.
• The corresponding author must ensure that all contributors are properly credited and that the order of authorship is agreed upon by all.
4. Multiple, Redundant, and Concurrent Publication • Authors must not submit the same manuscript to more than one journal simultaneously.
• Republishing previously conducted research is acceptable only if substantially revised or extended with new data or analysis.
• Secondary publication must have editor approval and cite the original source.
• Concurrent submissions constitute unethical behavior and are not permitted.
5. Acknowledgment of Sources • Proper acknowledgment of all sources, contributions, and funding agencies is mandatory.
• Authors must cite all relevant prior work and literature to maintain transparency.
• Contributions of individuals who assisted technically, financially, or intellectually should be acknowledged appropriately.
6. Authorship Credit • Authorship is reserved for individuals who have made significant contributions to the conception, design, execution, or interpretation of the study.
• The corresponding author is responsible for ensuring inclusion of all legitimate co-authors and exclusion of those who did not contribute.
• All co-authors must approve the final manuscript before submission.
• Contributors not meeting authorship criteria should be listed in the “Acknowledgment” section.
7. Privacy of Participants • Authors must respect the privacy and confidentiality of research participants and obtain informed consent before using personal data.
• Identifiable information may only be published with explicit permission.
• For deceased participants, consent should be obtained from their next of kin or legal representatives.
8. Data Access and Retention • Authors may be asked to provide raw data related to their research for editorial or peer review verification.
• Authors should ensure secure storage and accessibility of data for reasonable periods after publication.
9. Images and Graphics • All images must accurately represent the data without any manipulation or alteration that could mislead readers.
• Authors should clearly describe the origin, generation, and modification of all images used.
10. Disclosure and Conflicts of Interest • Authors must disclose any potential conflicts of interest, including financial, professional, or personal relationships that could influence the research.
• Funding sources must be fully disclosed, along with their role in study design, analysis, or interpretation.
• Failure to disclose conflicts may result in rejection or retraction.
11. Copyright • Upon acceptance, authors may be required to sign a Copyright Agreement granting the journal rights to publish and distribute the article, including derivative works such as translations.
12. Manuscript Acceptance and Rejection • The review process typically takes 1–2 months, after which the author(s) will be notified of the editorial decision: Accept, Reject, or Revise and Resubmit.
• In the case of revision, authors must provide a detailed response to reviewers’ comments and submit the revised version for re-evaluation.
• If dissatisfied with a rejection decision, the corresponding author may appeal by formally contacting the Editor-in-Chief.
• Rejected manuscripts may be submitted to other journals after the editorial process concludes.

Note

These ethical guidelines align with the Higher Education Commission (HEC), Pakistan and international best practices for responsible authorship and publication integrity. Authors are expected to comply fully with these principles to maintain the scholarly standards of the Pakistan Journal of Linguistics (PJL).