Overview
Lingua is committed to upholding the highest standards of publication ethics. It adheres to the principles of transparency and best practice in scholarly publishing as developed by the Committee on Publication Ethics (COPE).
Duties of Editors
Fair Play and Editorial Independence
Editors evaluate submitted manuscripts solely on the basis of their academic merit (importance, originality, validity, and clarity) and relevance to the journal’s scope, without regard to the authors’ race, gender, sexual orientation, ethnic origin, citizenship, religious belief, political philosophy, or institutional affiliation. Editorial decisions are not influenced by governmental policies or external agencies. The Editor-in-Chief has full authority over the journal’s editorial content and the timing of publication.
Confidentiality
Editors and editorial staff must not disclose any information about a submitted manuscript to anyone other than the corresponding author, reviewers, potential reviewers, other editorial advisers, and the publisher, as appropriate.
Disclosure and Conflicts of Interest
Editors and editorial board members must not use unpublished information revealed in a submitted manuscript for their own research without the authors’ explicit written consent. Privileged information obtained during manuscript handling will remain confidential and not be used for personal advantage. Editors must recuse themselves from manuscripts in which they have conflicts of interest arising from competitive, collaborative, or other relationships with authors, companies, or institutions; another editor will be assigned to handle the manuscript.
Publication Decisions
Editors ensure that manuscripts under consideration undergo peer review by at least two experts in the field. The Editor-in-Chief is responsible for deciding which manuscripts are published, based on their scholarly merit, reviewer comments, and legal requirements concerning libel, copyright, and plagiarism. The Editor-in-Chief may consult with other editors or reviewers during decision-making.
Involvement and Cooperation in Investigations
Editors, in coordination with the publisher, will take appropriate measures if ethical concerns arise regarding a submitted or published manuscript. All cases of unethical publishing behavior will be investigated, even if discovered years after publication. Editors follow COPE Flowcharts when dealing with suspected misconduct. When concerns are substantiated, the journal will publish a correction, retraction, expression of concern, or another relevant notice.
Duties of Reviewers
Contribution to Editorial Decisions
Peer review assists editors in making decisions and helps authors improve their manuscripts through constructive feedback. Peer review is an essential element of formal scholarly communication.
Promptness
Reviewers who feel unqualified to assess a manuscript or unable to review promptly should notify the editors immediately and decline the invitation.
Confidentiality
Manuscripts received for review must be treated as confidential documents. They must not be shared or discussed with others unless authorized by the Editor-in-Chief and only under exceptional circumstances. This obligation applies even to reviewers who decline the review.
Standards of Objectivity
Reviews must be conducted objectively, with clear, evidence-based comments that assist authors in improving the manuscript. Personal criticism is inappropriate.
Acknowledgment of Sources
Reviewers should identify relevant published work not cited by the authors. Any previously reported statements, derivations, or arguments must be accompanied by proper citation. Reviewers must also inform editors of any substantial similarity or overlap between the manuscript and other works they are aware of.
Disclosure and Conflicts of Interest
Reviewers with conflicts of interest—whether competitive, collaborative, or based on other relationships with authors or institutions—must immediately inform the editors and decline the review.
Unpublished materials disclosed in a manuscript may not be used in a reviewer’s own research without written permission from the authors. Privileged information obtained through peer review must remain confidential.
Duties of Authors
Reporting Standards
Authors must present accurate accounts of their research, followed by an objective discussion of its significance. Manuscripts should contain sufficient detail and references to allow replication. Review articles must be accurate and comprehensive; opinion pieces must be clearly identified as such. Fraudulent or knowingly inaccurate statements constitute unethical behavior.
Data Access and Retention
Authors may be asked to provide raw data during the review process and should be prepared to make such data publicly available when feasible. Authors must ensure that data remain accessible to qualified professionals for at least 10 years after publication, provided confidentiality and proprietary rights are respected.
Originality and Plagiarism
Authors must submit only original works and properly cite the work and words of others. Plagiarism—whether copying, paraphrasing without attribution, or claiming results from others' research—is unethical and unacceptable.
Multiple, Duplicate, Redundant, or Concurrent Submission/Publication
Manuscripts that describe essentially the same research must not be published in more than one journal. Submitting a manuscript to multiple journals simultaneously is unethical. Secondary publication (e.g., translations) may be acceptable only if agreed upon by all editors involved, with appropriate citation of the original work.
Authorship of the Manuscript
Only individuals who meet all authorship criteria should be listed as authors:
(i) significant contribution to conception, design, execution, data acquisition, or analysis;
(ii) drafting or critically revising the manuscript;
(iii) approval of the final version and agreement to submit.
Contributors who do not meet authorship criteria must be acknowledged with their written permission. The corresponding author must ensure the accuracy of the author list and obtain approval from all co-authors.
Disclosure and Conflicts of Interest
Authors must disclose all financial and non-financial conflicts of interest at the earliest stage. Examples include funding, employment, consultancies, stock ownership, paid testimony, or personal beliefs influencing interpretation. All sources of financial support must be acknowledged.
Acknowledgment of Sources
Authors must properly acknowledge others' work and cite influential publications. Information obtained privately must not be used without written permission. Confidential information obtained through peer review or grant evaluation must not be used without consent.
Hazards and Human or Animal Subjects
If the research involves hazardous materials, authors must clearly identify them. For studies involving animals or humans, authors must comply with relevant laws and institutional guidelines and include statements of ethics approval and informed consent.
Peer Review
Authors must participate fully in the peer-review process, responding promptly to requests for data, clarifications, ethics approvals, or permissions. When revisions are required, authors must respond systematically and resubmit by the specified deadline.
Fundamental Errors in Published Works
Authors must promptly notify the journal if they discover significant errors in their published work. Corrections, errata, or retractions will be issued as needed. If notified by a third party, authors must cooperate with editors to correct the record.
Duties of the Publisher
Handling Unethical Publishing Behavior
In cases of suspected or confirmed misconduct, fraudulent publication, or plagiarism, the publisher, in collaboration with the editors, will take appropriate measures, such as issuing corrections, clarifications, or retractions. The publisher and editors work to prevent misconduct and do not encourage or knowingly permit unethical practices.
Access to Journal Content
The publisher is committed to the permanent availability and preservation of scholarly research through partnerships with preservation organizations and by maintaining a secure digital archive.
Contact
Lingua works closely with authors and editors to ensure adherence to COPE principles. We encourage the use of COPE resources, available on their website. All manuscripts must conform to ethical standards, and any concerns regarding ethical issues will be fully investigated to maintain the integrity of the scholarly record.
If you have concerns regarding a published manuscript, please contact us at:
Research Integrity and Publication Ethics Team