The Iranian Journal of Comparative Linguistic Research in its publishing activities adheres to the principles of publication ethics accepted by the international community, as reflected in the recommendations of the Committee on Publication Ethics (COPE, https://publicationethics.org/guidance/Guidelines) and the Singapore Statement on the Integrity of Research Work (https://www.wcrif.org/guidance/singapore-statement). Authors, reviewers, scientific editors, and, the editor-in-chief must adhere to these ethical guidelines when collaborating with this journal.   

In order to prevent unethical practices in publishing, such as plagiarism and the dissemination of false information, and to uphold the integrity and quality of scientific publications while ensuring proper acknowledgment of authors' scientific contributions, it is imperative that all members of the Editorial Board, publishers, authors, reviewers, and affiliated institutions comply with established ethical standards, rules, and regulations. They must take all reasonable measures to avert any breaches of these standards. Adherence to these ethical guidelines by all parties involved safeguards authors' intellectual property rights, enhances the quality of the journal, and mitigates the potential misuse of copyrighted material for the benefit of specific individuals.

Upon submitting to the journal, authors acknowledge their responsibility for the originality and authenticity of their scientific findings, which necessitates adherence to the following principles:

• Authors are required to present accurate research findings. Intentional falsehoods or fraudulent claims are strictly prohibited.
• Authors must ensure that their research results are entirely original. Any borrowed content or statements must be properly cited, acknowledging the original author and source. Excessive reliance on others' work and any form of plagiarism—including undocumented citations, paraphrasing, or misappropriating another individual's research—are unethical and unacceptable. The Editorial Board considers uncredited borrowings as plagiarism.
• Authors are to provide only verifiable facts and data, ensuring sufficient detail for other researchers to replicate experiments. They must refrain from using privately obtained information without explicit written consent and must not engage in data fabrication or falsification.
• Authors must avoid submitting duplicate manuscripts. If any elements of the manuscript have been previously published, they must reference the earlier work and highlight the differences.
• Authors are prohibited from submitting a manuscript that is currently under consideration by another journal or one that has already been published elsewhere.
• It is essential to acknowledge the contributions of all individuals who participated in the research. The manuscript should reference works that significantly influenced the research.
• All individuals who made substantial contributions should be recognized as co-authors. Listing individuals who did not participate in the research is unacceptable.
• Authors are expected to respect the efforts of the Editorial Board and reviewers, addressing any identified inaccuracies or providing justifications.
• Manuscripts must be prepared and submitted in accordance with the journal's standards.
• If authors discover significant errors or inaccuracies in their manuscript, whether during consideration or after publication, they must promptly notify the Editorial Board.
• Authors are required to demonstrate to the Editorial Board or the Publisher the validity of their initial manuscript or correct substantial errors if these are brought to light by a third party.
• Authors may request the withdrawal of their manuscript while it is still under peer review; however, withdrawal is not permitted once the manuscript has been accepted for publication.
• Any changes or clarifications made to the text must be agreed upon with the author. In the event of disagreement regarding editorial changes, either party may opt to withdraw the material or reach a mutual agreement.

Editor-in-Chief's Responsibility

The Editor-in-Chief is responsible for evaluating the intellectual content of manuscripts without regard to the author's race, ethnicity, gender, origin, social status, and etc,. Moreover, the Editor-in-Chief will not permit the publication of a manuscript if there is substantial evidence to suggest that it constitutes plagiarism. Decisions regarding publication will be made based on the following primary criteria:

• The manuscript's alignment with the Journal's scope.
• The relevance, originality, and scientific significance of the submitted work.
• Clarity of presentation, reliability of results, and comprehensiveness of conclusions.

Each manuscript undergoes peer review by a minimum of two experts in the relevant field. Reviewers will provide their evaluations and recommendations to the Editor-in-Chief. Manuscripts submitted for review are considered confidential documents and shall not be shared or discussed with third parties without authorization from the Editorial Board. The Editorial Board is committed to making impartial decisions based solely on the professional quality and merit of the submitted materials.

The Editorial Board is obligated to maintain the confidentiality of the information contained in the manuscript and is prohibited from disclosing it to third parties, except for reviewers.

Authorship of the Manuscript

The following authorship criteria are widely recognized to determine who should be credited as an author of a manuscript. These criteria ensure that all listed authors have made substantial contributions to the research and are willing to accept responsibility for its content. To qualify for authorship, an individual must meet the following criteria:

1. Significant Contributions: The individual must have made substantial contributions to the conception, design, execution, data acquisition, or analysis and interpretation of the research. This indicates that they have played a pivotal role in the research process.
2. Drafting or Critical Revision: The individual must have participated in the writing of the manuscript. They should have either drafted the document or critically revised it to enhance its intellectual content. This requirement ensures that they have actively contributed to the manuscript's development and refinement.
3. Approval of the Final Manuscript: The individual must have reviewed and approved the final version of the manuscript and consented to its submission for publication. This confirms their review of the manuscript and their willingness to take public responsibility for its content.

By adhering to these criteria, the manuscript accurately reflects the contributions and responsibilities of each author while upholding ethical standards in scholarly publishing.

According to the authorship guidelines established by the Committee on Publication Ethics (COPE), individuals who have contributed to the research but do not meet the criteria for authorship should be acknowledged in the "Acknowledgements" section of the manuscript. It is essential to obtain their written consent prior to including their names in this section.

The corresponding author holds a vital responsibility in maintaining the integrity of the authorship list. They must ensure that all individuals who have made significant contributions to the research are appropriately recognized as co-authors, while also confirming that no individuals who have not contributed are included. Additionally, the corresponding author should verify that all co-authors have reviewed and approved the final version of the manuscript before its submission for publication.

Disclosure and Conflicts of Interest

Authors are obligated to disclose any potential conflicts of interest that could affect the outcomes or interpretations presented in their manuscript. This practice is fundamental to upholding the integrity and credibility of the research. Financial conflicts, such as sources of funding or ownership of stocks, must be clearly stated, along with non-financial conflicts, which may include personal relationships or affiliations. Furthermore, it is important to disclose all forms of financial support received for the research, including specific grant numbers or reference identifiers. By providing this information, authors promote transparency and allow readers to critically assess any potential biases that may be present.

Unethical cases observation

The journal reserves its right to stop the review process before publishing or deleting the paper after that in case of observing unethical cases. These cases will be announced to the authors after the investigation by the editorial board and the necessary action will be taken according to it.