Plagiarism Policy

Introduction

The Journal of Language, Literature & Social Affairs (JLLSA) upholds the highest standards of academic integrity and scholarly ethics. Plagiarism, in any form, undermines the credibility of academic publishing and the scholarly community at large. To ensure the authenticity and originality of published research, JLLSA enforces a strict anti-plagiarism policy.

Definition of Plagiarism

Plagiarism is defined as the use of another individual’s work, ideas, or expressions without proper acknowledgment, thereby presenting them as one’s own. This includes, but is not limited to:

  • Copying Text: Reproducing text from published or unpublished sources without quotation marks and citation.
  • Paraphrasing: Rewording another author’s ideas, theories, or findings without appropriate credit.
  • Unacknowledged Use of Data: Utilizing data, figures, images, or tables from external sources without proper attribution.
  • Self-Plagiarism: Republishing one’s own previously submitted or published work without disclosure, citation, or permission.

Plagiarism Threshold

  • JLLSA Standard: Manuscripts submitted to JLLSA must not exceed a 10% similarity index. Submissions that surpass this threshold may be rejected outright or returned for substantial revision.
  • HEC Benchmark: For reference, the Higher Education Commission (HEC) of Pakistan allows up to 19% similarity. However, JLLSA maintains a stricter standard to promote academic excellence and originality.

Detection and Prevention

  • Plagiarism Detection Software: All submissions are rigorously screened using advanced plagiarism detection tools (e.g., Turnitin) to ensure content originality.
  • Author Responsibility: Authors are solely responsible for ensuring that their work is original and appropriately cited. Manuscripts must not infringe upon the intellectual property rights of others.

Handling of Plagiarism

  • Initial Review: If plagiarism is suspected, the editorial team conducts a preliminary assessment to determine its extent and nature.
  • Verification: Suspected content is cross-referenced with the original sources. Authors may be asked to clarify or provide documentation during this process.

Actions Against Plagiarism

  • Minor Plagiarism: In cases involving improper citation or unintentional referencing errors, authors will be asked to revise and resubmit the manuscript with appropriate corrections.
  • Major Plagiarism: For serious or intentional plagiarism, the manuscript will be rejected without further consideration. If already published, the paper will be retracted and removed from the journal archives with a retraction notice.
  • Repeated Offenses: Authors who are found to engage in repeated or egregious acts of plagiarism will be permanently banned from submitting to JLLSA. In severe cases, the journal may notify the author’s affiliated institution or funding agency.

Author’s Declaration

All authors are required to submit a Statement of Originality affirming that:

  • The manuscript is original.
  • All sources have been appropriately cited.
  • The work has not been published elsewhere or is under consideration by another journal.

Appeal Process

Authors who believe that a plagiarism decision was made in error have the right to appeal. Appeals will be reviewed by the editorial board, and a final verdict will be rendered after a thorough and impartial evaluation.

Transparency and Public Disclosure

In the event of a retraction due to plagiarism, the journal will publish a formal notice detailing the reason for the action to uphold transparency and maintain the trust of the academic community.

Use of AI-Generated Content

JLLSA strictly prohibits the use of AI-generated content in all submitted academic works. Authors must ensure that their manuscripts are the result of original human scholarship. Submissions generated or significantly assisted by AI tools (e.g., ChatGPT, Bard, Gemini, etc.) are not acceptable, as they compromise the authenticity, critical thinking, and academic rigor expected in scholarly publications. All manuscripts must have 0% AI-generated content, and authors must submit work that reflects their own intellectual effort. Violations of this policy will be treated with the same severity as plagiarism.