The International Journal of Indigenous Languages (IJILAN) is committed to maintaining the highest standards of academic integrity, professionalism, transparency, and ethical conduct in scholarly publishing. The journal recognizes that ethical publishing practices are essential for promoting credible research, protecting intellectual property, respecting indigenous knowledge systems, and sustaining public trust in academic scholarship.

All stakeholders involved in the publication process including authors, editors, reviewers, advisory board members, and publishers are expected to adhere strictly to the following ethical responsibilities.

Ethical Responsibilities of Authors

Authors submitting manuscripts to IJILAN shall:

Originality and Authenticity

• Submit only original and unpublished work;

• Ensure that manuscripts are not under consideration by another journal simultaneously;

• Properly acknowledge and cite all sources, data, and scholarly contributions used in the research.

Avoidance of Academic Misconduct

Authors must refrain from:

• Plagiarism;

• Data fabrication or falsification;

• Duplicate or redundant publication;

• Manipulation of research findings;

• Misrepresentation of authorship or institutional affiliation.

Authorship Integrity

• Include as authors only individuals who made substantial scholarly contributions to the work;

• Obtain consent from all co-authors before submission;

• Identify the corresponding author responsible for communication with the journal.

Ethical Research Practices

• Obtain necessary ethical approvals where human participants or communities are involved;

• Respect indigenous intellectual property rights, oral traditions, and cultural sensitivities;

• Demonstrate informed consent and community collaboration where applicable.

Conflict of Interest Disclosure

• Disclose any financial, institutional, or personal relationships that may influence the research or publication process.

Ethical Responsibilities of Editors

Editors of IJILAN shall:

Fair Editorial Decisions

• Evaluate manuscripts solely on academic merit, originality, relevance, and scholarly contribution;

• Ensure impartiality without discrimination based on nationality, ethnicity, gender, religion, political affiliation, or institutional background.

Confidentiality

• Maintain confidentiality regarding submitted manuscripts and the identities of reviewers and authors during the review process;

• Avoid unauthorized disclosure of manuscript content.

Integrity of the Review Process

• Ensure a transparent, objective, and unbiased peer-review process;

• Prevent conflicts of interest in editorial decision-making;

• Take appropriate action regarding allegations of misconduct or ethical violations.

Publication Ethics Enforcement

• Reject manuscripts involving plagiarism, falsification, or unethical research practices;

• Issue corrections, retractions, or clarifications when necessary.

Ethical Responsibilities of Reviewers

Reviewers are expected to:

Confidentiality

• Treat all manuscripts as confidential documents;

• Not share, discuss, or use unpublished materials for personal advantage.

Objectivity and Professionalism

• Provide fair, constructive, and evidence-based evaluations;

• Avoid personal criticism or biased comments.

Timeliness

• Complete reviews within the agreed timeframe;

• Inform editors promptly if unable to review a manuscript.

Disclosure of Conflicts of Interest

• Decline review assignments where conflicts of interest may compromise objectivity.

Academic Integrity

• Identify relevant published works not cited by authors;

• Report suspected plagiarism, duplication, or unethical practices to the editors.

Ethical Responsibilities Regarding Indigenous Knowledge and Communities

IJILAN recognizes the unique ethical dimensions involved in research on indigenous languages and cultures. Therefore:

• Researchers must respect indigenous cultural protocols and community values;

• Sacred, restricted, or culturally sensitive information must not be published without explicit permission;

• Indigenous communities should be acknowledged as partners and knowledge holders where appropriate;

• Research involving indigenous peoples should prioritize mutual benefit, collaboration, and cultural preservation;

• Authors are encouraged to adopt decolonial and community-centered research approaches.

Anti-Plagiarism Policy

All submissions shall undergo plagiarism screening using recognized similarity-detection software.

The journal maintains zero tolerance for:

• Direct plagiarism;

• Self-plagiarism without disclosure;

• Improper citation practices;

• Unauthorized reproduction of intellectual materials.

Manuscripts found to violate plagiarism standards may be:

• Rejected immediately;

• Returned for correction;

• Retracted after publication if misconduct is discovered later.

Conflict of Interest Policy

All participants in the publication process must disclose potential conflicts of interest that may influence:

• Research outcomes;

• Editorial decisions;

• Peer-review evaluations;

• Funding or sponsorship arrangements.

Undisclosed conflicts of interest may result in withdrawal or rejection of manuscripts.

Corrections and Retractions

IJILAN reserves the right to:

• Publish corrections where errors significantly affect interpretation;

• Retract articles involving proven misconduct, plagiarism, falsification, or unethical research practices;

• Issue statements of concern where investigations are ongoing.

Commitment to Ethical Publishing Standards

IJILAN is committed to promoting:

• Academic honesty;

• Transparency in research and publishing;

• Respect for cultural diversity and indigenous rights;

• Intellectual responsibility and scholarly excellence.

The journal encourages all contributors to uphold ethical principles that advance credible, respectful, and socially responsible indigenous language scholarship.