Journal Policies
The journal policy provides detailed information regarding manuscript submission, editorial, and publishing processes, as well as guidelines for authors and peer reviewers. To ensure ethical and seamless publishing activities, all participating parties must be fully aware of their rights and responsibilities.
1. Authorship
1.1. Any individual designated as an author must have made a substantial contribution to conducting the research and drafting the manuscript. An author is obliged to take full responsibility for the research and the manuscript, as well as to approve the final version prepared for publication. Any individual who is not a direct author of the manuscript but has contributed to the research or text preparation should be explicitly acknowledged in the "Acknowledgements" section at the end of the article.
1.2. Any changes to the list of authors (additions or removals) during the peer review process or after the acceptance of the manuscript must be approved by all listed authors, and the rationale for the change must be communicated to the Editor-in-Chief in writing.
1.3. It is recommended that each author's specific contribution be detailed at the end of the article under a "Co-Authorship / Author Contributions" section.
Detailed information regarding manuscript preparation and submission can be found on the For Authors page.
2. Publication Frequency
To ensure diversity within the author base and provide equal publishing opportunities, an author is permitted to publish their research in the journal no more than once every two years.
3. Prerequisites and Author Responsibilities
The author is responsible for and guarantees that:
3.1. The submitted material is their original work and does not duplicate previously published research.
3.2. The manuscript is submitted exclusively to this journal; it has not been submitted for consideration, peer review, or publication to any other outlet.
3.3. The work contains no offensive, defamatory, falsified, fraudulent, or unlawful content.
Note: Violation of the above terms is considered academic misconduct and will result in appropriate action. In the event a violation is discovered, the publisher reserves the right, at the discretion of the Editor-in-Chief and Publisher, to require the authors to reimburse the costs incurred during editorial processing.
4. Peer Review Policy
4.1. Upon receipt, manuscripts are immediately screened for alignment with the journal’s scope. An article will not be forwarded for peer review and will be returned to the author if it falls outside the journal's focus, fails to meet scientific standards, or exhibits technical deficiencies.
4.2. The journal invites independent external experts (beyond the editorial board) to evaluate manuscripts. The final decision regarding publication is made by the Editor-in-Chief based on the reports and recommendations of at least two independent reviewers.
4.3. Authors may suggest potential reviewer candidates (e.g., subject-matter experts); however, the editorial board reserves the right to select alternative independent reviewers.
4.4. To avoid bias, the journal employs a double-blind peer review system—neither the author nor the reviewer knows the identity of the other.
4.5. Upon receiving two review reports, the Editor-in-Chief decides on one of the following decisions to send to the author:
- Accept Submission
- Revisions Required (Minor Revision)
- Resubmit for Review (Major Revision)
- Decline Submission (Reject)
The grounds for the decision along with reviewer comments will be provided to the author.
4.5.1. If the author fails to address reviewer comments appropriately, the editor reserves the right to reject the manuscript.
4.5.2. The editorial team strives to adhere to standard review timelines and issue a first decision within 30 days of submission, though deadlines may vary depending on reviewer availability.
Note: Non-research communications, such as letters to the editor or editorial columns, are not sent for peer review; publication decisions for these rest solely with the Editor-in-Chief.
5. Artificial Intelligence (AI) Policy
5.1. Authors: The use of AI tools and chatbots in preparing a scientific manuscript is permitted only as a supportive aid. Authors may utilize AI for language editing, stylistic refinement, or technical assistance (e.g., generating figures or searching for supplementary materials). Using AI to generate scientific content, analyze research data, articulate personal opinions, or formulate conclusions and theoretical ideas is strictly prohibited. AI tools cannot be listed as co-authors. The manuscript must explicitly disclose which parts were processed using AI and specify the tools used. The author bears full responsibility for the originality, accuracy, and scientific integrity of the text. The editorial board reserves the right to reject any manuscript demonstrating inappropriate AI use.
5.2. Reviewers: Reviewers may use AI tools solely to refine the language and phrasing of their review reports. Uploading any part of a submitted manuscript into open AI platforms is strictly prohibited, as this violates author confidentiality and data protection principles. AI must not be used to generate the scientific evaluation, substantive comments, or publication recommendations.
6. Appeals Process
Authors have the right to appeal a rejection decision if they believe it was made unfairly. To do so, the author must submit a reasoned argument via email to the Editor-in-Chief. The appeal will be reviewed by an editorial board member who was not involved in the initial decision. An appeal may be submitted only once per manuscript.
7. Supplementary Materials
The journal accepts supplementary materials (files) that support the scientific arguments of the article (e.g., illustrations, textual appendixes, questionnaires, maps). Supplementary materials are not sent for peer review, though their necessity is evaluated editorially. Authors bear full responsibility for their content.
8. Data Sharing
The journal encourages researchers to deposit and share primary research data. Authors are advised to archive their datasets in trusted digital repositories (e.g., FigShare or similar) where a unique Digital Object Identifier (DOI) is assigned, enabling formal data citation.
9. Copyright and Permissions
Authors are solely responsible for securing copyright permission to reproduce any third-party material (illustrations, tables, extensive quotes). Authors must provide written proof of permission upon editorial request.
10. Conflict of Interest
10.1. A conflict of interest exists when personal (friendship, family, collaboration), business, or financial relationships (funding, grants) could potentially compromise the impartiality of individuals involved in the publication process.
10.2. Authors must declare any potential conflicts of interest (e.g., funding bodies) within the manuscript or during correspondence with the editor.
10.3. Reviewers are required to notify the Editor-in-Chief immediately if a conflict of interest arises regarding an assigned manuscript.
10.4. Editors and board members do not participate in reviewing or deciding upon manuscripts where they have a conflict of interest (e.g., if a direct colleague or family member submits a paper, the process is handled independently by another editor).
11. Plagiarism and Academic Integrity
Authors must guarantee the originality of their submission and properly cite all sources used. The journal strictly opposes plagiarism and screens manuscripts using specialized detection software (e.g., Turnitin, PlagScan). Unattributed use of third-party material is classified as severe academic misconduct.
12. Editorial Independence
The Editorial Board maintains complete independence and authority to select, accept, or reject manuscripts free from external political, administrative, or commercial influence.
13. Editorial Responsibilities
Editors are required to maintain strict confidentiality regarding submitted manuscripts and ensure fair, unbiased, and timely evaluations. The Editorial Board is dedicated to upholding the academic quality of the journal.
14. Publisher Responsibilities
The Publisher ensures that the journal complies with international technological, archiving, data security, and publication ethics standards.
15. Open Access Policy
15.1. The journal Issues of Terminology is fully open access and distributed under the Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial (CC BY-NC 4.0) International License. This permits readers to freely read, share, and build upon the work for non-commercial purposes, provided proper credit is given to the original author.
15.2. Open access fosters international visibility and universal accessibility to scientific knowledge.
15.3. Upon publication, copyright remains with the author(s), while the journal is granted the right of first publication.
16. Publication Fees
16.1. Publishing in the journal is subject to an article processing fee, which covers peer review management, copyediting, typesetting, and digital archiving.
16.2. Specific fee structures, payment deadlines, and conditions are detailed on the For Authors page.
16.3. Payment of the publication fee does not guarantee acceptance; editorial decisions are completely independent of financial transactions.
17. Corrections and Retractions
17.1. If a significant error is identified post-publication, the editorial team will publish a formal correction, erratum, or retraction notice. Authors and readers are encouraged to notify the Editor-in-Chief of any errors requiring correction.
17.2. Discovered errors will be investigated by the Publisher and Editor-in-Chief in consultation with the author.
17.3. A manuscript will be retracted if evidence of unethical research, fraudulent data, severe misconduct, or plagiarism is found, or if errors undermine the scientific validity of the work.
18. Academic Misconduct
TSU Arnold Chikobava Institute of Linguistics and the journal Issues of Terminology fully adhere to the guidelines of the Committee on Publication Ethics (COPE) regarding editorial ethics and misconduct management. Academic misconduct includes data fabrication, plagiarism, and breaches of confidentiality. Cases are evaluated individually, and the publisher reserves the right to notify the author's or reviewer's home institution if serious misconduct is suspected.
Note: If misconduct is suspected during the peer review phase, processing of the manuscript will be suspended until the matter is resolved.
19. Complaints Policy
If an author, reviewer, or reader wishes to lodge a complaint regarding the journal or its editors, they should contact the Publisher in writing. Complaints will be handled by the designated editorial officer; if unresolved, the matter will be escalated to senior management for a final determination.
20. Privacy Policy
Thank you for visiting the website of Issues of Terminology or creating a user account. The editorial team is committed to protecting your personal data in accordance with the General Data Protection Regulation (GDPR - EU 2016/679) and applicable legislation.
20.1. Ownership and Contact
The website is owned by TSU Arnold Chikobava Institute of Linguistics. For queries regarding this policy, please contact us at: geoterms.ge@gmail.com.
20.2. Cookie Policy
20.2.1. What are cookies? Cookies are small files stored on your hard drive that track and store user activity to optimize website functionality.
20.2.2. Usage: We use session cookies to assist navigation and user authentication (e.g., checking user ID privileges). We also use anonymous analytics software to assess user interaction patterns without collecting personal identifiable information. Users can disable cookies via browser settings, though some site features may become restricted.
20.3. Personal Data Collection
When using the site, you may be asked to provide personal details used exclusively for managing publishing workflows and databases.
20.3.1. Collected Data: (1) First and Last Name, (2) Email address, (3) Institutional affiliation, (4) Country, (5) Account details, and (6) ORCID iD.
20.3.2. Purpose: Data is collected to allow users to register as authors, reviewers, or editors and participate in editorial processes.20.4. Data Storage and Use.
20.4.1. Information is collected via online registration forms or written/oral consent.
20.4.2. Personal data is securely stored on institute-managed servers. Editors access names and emails solely for editorial tasks (e.g., inviting reviewers).
20.4.3. Personal information will never be sold, rented, or made available to third parties, except technical contractors bound by project confidentiality terms.
20.5. Automated Email Notifications
Registered users will receive automated system emails related to active submission or review processes. Reviewers may receive invitations aligned with their declared expertise.
20.6. Direct Editorial Outreach
Editors may contact users directly regarding account recovery, manuscript evaluations, service surveys, or reviewer recognition.
20.7. Corresponding Author Details
The email address of the corresponding author will be published alongside the accepted article.
20.8. Data Retention and User Rights
20.8.1. Retention: Personal data is retained only as long as necessary for editorial goals or legal compliance, after which it is securely deleted.
20.8.2. User Rights: Users may request a copy of their personal data, request corrections, or ask for profile deletion at any time by contacting the editorial team.
20.8.3. Account Cancellation: Accounts can be deactivated under Account Settings, though archival copies may be retained as required by law or for fraud prevention.
