Artificial Intelligence (AI) Policy

Artificial Intelligence (AI) Policy

The Journal of Linguistics, Literature and Language Teaching (JLLLT) recognizes the increasing use of Artificial Intelligence (AI) and AI-assisted technologies in academic research and scholarly publishing. JLLLT supports the responsible, transparent, and ethical use of AI tools while maintaining academic integrity, human authorship, research transparency, and accountability.

This policy applies to authors, reviewers, editors, and other individuals involved in the editorial and publication processes of JLLLT.

1. General Principles

AI tools may be used as supportive technologies when appropriate. However, AI must not replace the authors' intellectual contribution, critical thinking, professional judgment, or responsibility for the research and manuscript.

Authors remain fully responsible for the accuracy, originality, integrity, and ethical compliance of their submitted and published work.

AI-generated content must be carefully reviewed, verified, and edited by the authors before it is incorporated into a manuscript. Authors are responsible for checking factual claims, interpretations, citations, references, and potential bias in AI-generated output.

Authors should also review the terms of use, privacy policies, and data-handling practices of any AI tool used, particularly when submitting unpublished manuscripts, confidential information, personal data, or copyrighted materials.

2. Permitted Use of AI by Authors

Authors may use AI-assisted tools to support manuscript preparation, including:

  • improving grammar, spelling, punctuation, and language;

  • improving clarity, readability, and sentence structure;

  • organizing or structuring manuscript content;

  • assisting with literature organization or background research;

  • translating text;

  • checking manuscript completeness or compliance with submission requirements;

  • assisting with coding or other research-related tasks.

The use of AI must remain under meaningful human supervision and control.

Basic tools used only for spelling, grammar, or punctuation checking do not require an AI disclosure. However, AI use that results in substantive changes to the wording, organization, structure, or content of the manuscript must be disclosed.

3. Disclosure of AI Use in Manuscript Preparation

Authors must disclose substantive use of generative AI or AI-assisted technologies during manuscript preparation.

The disclosure should identify:

  • the name of the AI tool or service;

  • the purpose for which it was used;

  • the nature or extent of its use; and

  • confirmation that the authors reviewed and edited the output and remain responsible for the final manuscript.

The disclosure should be included in a separate section immediately before the References, entitled:

Declaration of Generative AI and AI-Assisted Technologies in the Manuscript Preparation Process

JLLLT recommends the following format:

During the preparation of this work, the author(s) used [NAME OF TOOL/SERVICE] in order to [REASON]. After using this tool/service, the author(s) reviewed and edited the content as needed and take(s) full responsibility for the content of the publication.

This declaration will form part of the published article.

4. AI Use in the Research Process

The use of AI as part of the research methodology is permitted when scientifically appropriate.

Examples include AI-assisted:

  • data analysis;

  • qualitative or quantitative coding;

  • natural language processing;

  • corpus analysis;

  • machine learning;

  • development or modification of research code;

  • predictive modelling;

  • data classification;

  • research design or experimental procedures.

When AI is used as part of the research process, its use must be described in sufficient detail in the Methods section to allow readers to understand and, where appropriate, reproduce the research.

Authors should report the name of the AI tool or model, version, developer or provider where applicable, and describe how the tool was used.

AI-assisted research must comply with applicable ethical, privacy, copyright, and data protection requirements.

5. AI and Authorship

AI tools, including but not limited to ChatGPT, Gemini, Claude, Microsoft Copilot, DeepSeek, and other generative AI systems, cannot be listed as authors or co-authors of a manuscript.

Authorship is limited to individuals who meet the journal's Authorship Policy.

Authors remain accountable for all aspects of the published work, including its accuracy, originality, integrity, and ethical compliance.

6. AI-Generated References and Citations

Authors may use AI tools to assist with literature organization or to identify potentially relevant sources. However, all references and citations generated or suggested by AI must be independently verified by the authors.

Authors must ensure that:

  • cited sources actually exist;

  • bibliographic information is accurate;

  • cited works support the claims for which they are cited;

  • no fabricated or unverifiable references are included.

Fabricated, inaccurate, or unverifiable references may result in rejection of the manuscript or further editorial investigation.

7. AI-Generated Images, Figures, and Visual Materials

AI tools may be used to assist in creating explanatory figures, conceptual diagrams, workflow diagrams, or other visual materials when scientifically and ethically appropriate.

Where AI has been used to generate or substantially modify such material, the authors must disclose the use of AI in the figure caption and, where applicable, in the general AI declaration.

The disclosure should include the AI tool used and, where relevant, the version and nature of the AI assistance.

AI must not be used to fabricate, alter, or misrepresent research data or primary research images.

Data visualizations generated with AI must be directly derived from the underlying research data using reproducible analytical or computational procedures.

Authors remain responsible for the accuracy, originality, and integrity of all submitted figures and images.

8. Prohibited Uses of AI

AI tools must not be used to:

  • fabricate or falsify research data;

  • fabricate, manipulate, or misrepresent research results;

  • generate or insert fabricated references;

  • conceal plagiarism or duplicate publication;

  • misrepresent AI-generated material as entirely human-generated where disclosure is required;

  • manipulate primary research images or other research evidence;

  • generate false research findings;

  • impersonate authors, reviewers, or editors;

  • interfere with the peer-review or editorial process;

  • disclose confidential research information through inappropriate AI tools.

Any such use may constitute a violation of the journal's Publication Ethics and may result in editorial or post-publication action.

9. Use of AI by Reviewers

Submitted manuscripts and all materials associated with peer review must be treated as confidential.

Reviewers must not upload submitted manuscripts, parts of manuscripts, reviewer reports, editorial correspondence, or other confidential information into AI tools.

AI tools may only be used in a limited supportive capacity, such as improving the language or structure of a review report or assisting with a background literature search, provided that:

  • the confidential manuscript or confidential information is not uploaded;

  • the AI tool provides appropriate privacy and data protection;

  • human judgment remains the basis of the review;

  • the reviewer remains fully responsible for the review report.

Where substantive AI assistance is used in preparing a review report, the reviewer should disclose the tool and purpose of use to the editor.

Basic spelling, grammar, or punctuation checking does not require disclosure.

10. Use of AI by Editors

Editors must maintain the confidentiality of all submitted manuscripts and editorial correspondence.

Editors must not upload submitted manuscripts, parts of manuscripts, reviewer reports, or confidential editorial communications into AI tools.

AI tools must not replace the editor's independent assessment, critical judgment, or final editorial decision.

Editors may use AI only in a supportive capacity where confidentiality is fully protected, such as assisting with the language or structure of non-confidential editorial communications or background literature searches.

The Editor-in-Chief and Editorial Team remain fully responsible for all editorial decisions.

11. Verification, Privacy, and Intellectual Property

Authors, reviewers, and editors using AI tools are responsible for ensuring that their use of such tools does not compromise:

  • confidentiality;

  • personal data;

  • research participants' privacy;

  • intellectual property rights;

  • copyright;

  • research integrity.

Users should review the applicable terms of service and data-handling practices of AI tools before submitting any confidential or unpublished information.

12. Editorial Assessment and Compliance

The Editorial Team may request clarification regarding the use of AI at any stage of the editorial process.

Where necessary, the journal may request:

  • an AI disclosure statement;

  • additional information regarding how an AI tool was used;

  • clarification of AI-generated content or images;

  • supporting documentation concerning the research process.

Failure to comply with this policy may result in:

  • a request for clarification or revision;

  • rejection of the manuscript;

  • publication of a correction;

  • an expression of concern;

  • retraction of a published article; or

  • notification of the author's institution in cases of serious misconduct.

Editorial actions will be taken in accordance with the journal's Publication Ethics, Plagiarism and Retraction Policy, Retraction, Withdrawal and Removal Policy, and other applicable editorial policies.

13. Relationship with Other JLLLT Policies

This policy should be read together with the following JLLLT policies:

  • Publication Ethics

  • Author Guidelines

  • Authorship Policy

  • Human Research Ethics Policy

  • Data Availability Policy

  • Plagiarism and Retraction Policy

  • Retraction, Withdrawal and Removal Policy

  • Peer Review Process

  • Correction and Erratum Policy

  • Appeals and Complaints Policy

Contact

Questions concerning the use of Artificial Intelligence in research, manuscript preparation, peer review, or editorial processes may be directed to the JLLLT Editorial Office through the journal's official contact page.