Plagiarism Policy

Plagiarism and Academic Integrity Policy

Dibon Journal of Languages (DJL) maintains rigorous standards to ensure the originality and integrity of all published work. This policy outlines our definitions, procedures, and the consequences of plagiarism and academic misconduct. DJL follows the principles and flowcharts of the Committee on Publication Ethics (COPE) in handling suspected misconduct.

  1. Definition and Types of Plagiarism
  • Direct copying of text, figures, or data
  • Paraphrasing without proper attribution
  • Self-plagiarism (redundant reuse of one's own previously published work)
  • Translation plagiarism
  • Idea plagiarism
  • Data fabrication or manipulation
  1. Similarity Screening

All submissions are screened for similarity using Turnitin. As a general benchmark, DJL expects an overall similarity index below 20%, with no single source exceeding 5%. These figures are guidance, not automatic thresholds: the similarity report is interpreted by the editorial team, since a low overall score may still indicate plagiarism if concentrated in one passage, while a higher score may be acceptable where it reflects correctly attributed method descriptions or reference material. The following are excluded from assessment: the reference list, standard methodology descriptions, common terminology, and properly quoted and attributed material.

  1. Detection Procedures
  • Initial similarity screening on submission
  • Manual review by the editorial team
  • Cross-reference and citation verification
  • Figure and data originality checks
  1. Handling of Suspected Plagiarism

Where plagiarism or misconduct is suspected, DJL follows COPE guidance:

  • Before publication: the manuscript may be returned to the author for clarification or rejected, depending on severity.
  • After publication: depending on the nature of the infraction, the journal may issue a correction, publish an expression of concern, or retract the article. Retracted articles remain available, clearly watermarked, with an explanatory note.
  • In serious cases, the author's institution may be notified.
  • Authors are given the opportunity to respond before any final action is taken.
  1. Artificial Intelligence (AI) Use Declaration - Mandatory

All authors must include one of the following declarations:

Option 1 - AI Tools Used: "The authors declare that the final content of this manuscript represents the sole intellectual efforts and original contributions of the authors. The authors used [AI tool name and version] for [specific purpose, e.g., grammar checking / language polishing / reference formatting]. All AI-assisted content was thoroughly reviewed, fact-checked, and substantially revised by the authors to ensure accuracy, originality, and adherence to academic standards."

Option 2 - No AI Tools Used: "The authors declare that no artificial intelligence tools were used in the preparation of this manuscript. The final content represents the sole intellectual efforts and original contributions of the authors."

Declaration requirements:

  • Included before submission or during copyediting
  • Placed in the Acknowledgements or a separate "AI Declaration" section on the Title Page
  • Authors selecting Option 1 must specify the exact tool(s) and version(s), the specific purpose of each, and confirm human review and revision
  • False declarations will be treated as academic misconduct

AI use guidelines:

  • Permitted: language editing, grammar checking, reference formatting, literature-search assistance, and technical support for data analysis (with full human verification)
  • Prohibited: generating original scholarly content presented as the authors' own — including drafting the results, discussion, or conclusions; and interpreting findings on the authors' behalf
  • AI tools cannot be listed as authors, and authors remain fully responsible for the accuracy, validity, and originality of all content

For questions regarding this policy, contact editor.languages@dibonjournals.com