Publication Policy

1. The papers submitted to Abant Journal of Translation and Interpreting Studies must be original and must not be under review for publication in any other journal.  
2. The journal accepts papers in English, French, German, and Turkish. 
3. Besides the scholars in translation and interpreting studies, those researchers with a scholarly perspective into translation and interpreting studies can also submit their papers to the journal 
4. The papers produced from congress or conference abstracts and presentations can also be submitted to the journal as long as this is acknowledged as a footnote on the first page of the paper.  The full text of the presentation must not have been published in the Book of Congress/Conference Proceedings.
5. Paper submission can only be made electronically via the submission system of the journal on Dergipark. The information regarding the author(s) required during the submission process are only used for publication details. This information cannot be revealed to the third parties on any account. 
6. The authors can monitor and check the status of their submitted paper via the electronic system on Dergipark. The review reports and results of double blind review can be monitored via this system. 
7. The file must be in MS Word. There must be no mention or hint of the name(s) of the author(s) or the name of their institutions in the paper. The name(s) of the author(s) and other necessary information can be accessed by the editor through the information provided by the author(s) as required during the submission process. 
8. Abant Journal of Translation and Interpreting Studies works on double blind review system. 
9. The papers approved by the editor for the writing style and content are sent to two reviewers for double-blind review. The papers accepted by both reviewers are published in the upcoming issue. When a paper is accepted by one reviewer but rejected by the other one, it is sent to a third reviewer for the final decision. A paper cannot be sent to a reviewer working in the same institution as the author. 
10. The authors submitting their papers to Abant Journal of Translation and Interpreting Studies automatically accept the policy of the journal regarding the review process and procedure. 
11. In the pre-review process, the editor could ask the author(s) for revisions on the format or content if necessary. 
12. The authors are expected to reply the e-mail for the last-check after the layout within the specified time. Unless replied in time, the paper is automatically postponed to another issue. 
13. The papers accepted for publication as a result of double-blind review system are published in the upcoming issue in the order of the date of submission. One author can submit maximum one paper for one issue. 
14. In addition to original research articles, translations of articles or book chapters that hold significant importance in the field of translation studies and have not previously been translated into the target language yet may also be submitted to the Abant Journal of Translation and Interpreting Studies. The original text and official permission obtained by the translator(s) from the author(s) of the original text and the publisher must also be included. All permission procedures and processes for the translation of the article or book chapter are within the responsibility of the translator(s).
15. The number of translated papers in one issue cannot exceed the rate of 1/3 of the original research papers. 
16. The authors could be asked for minor or major revisions on their papers as a result of the double-blind review system. The revision process is to be completed on the online system of the journal at Dergipark. The authors are expected to complete revisions as required by the reviewers.
17. The copyrights of the accepted or published papers are automatically transferred to Abant Journal of Translation and Interpreting Studies  with no further formal procedure or correspondence required between the editorial board and the authors. No payment is made to the authors by the journal for the copyrights of the published papers.
18. All the content and the individual perspectives of the author(s) in a paper belong to the author(s). Abant Journal of Translation and Interpreting Studies  does not take resposibility or cannot be held responsible for the individual perspectives or points of view of the authors.
19. Abant Journal of Translation and Interpreting Studies is licensed under Creative Commons. The papers published in this journal can be downloaded or shared with the required reference to the journal, but the papers published in the journal cannot be used for commercial purposes. 
20. Any sponsor, or the MA or PhD thesis as the starting point of a study must be acknowledged as a footnote linked to the title of the paper on the first page.
 

Ethics Committee Approval
Studies conducted on human or animal subjects using clinical, experimental, or quasi-experimental models must be submitted along with an ethics committee approval document obtained from a higher education institution. For studies requiring ethics committee approval, relevant information (the name of the university, approval date, and approval number) must be included in the methods section of the study or in another section deemed appropriate by the author(s).

In Case Studies, information regarding the signed informed consent form obtained from the participants must be provided. If a study does not require ethics committee approval, the author(s) must declare this at the time of submission.

 

Ethical Principles 

Abant Journal of Translation and Interpreting Studies (AJTIS) adheres to national and international standards regarding research and publication ethics. It complies with the Press Law, the Law on Intellectual and Artistic Works, and the Directive on Scientific Research and Publication Ethics of Higher Education Institutions. AJTIS has adopted the International Principles of Ethical Publishing issued by the Committee on Publication Ethics (COPE), the Directory of Open Access Journals (DOAJ), the Open Access Scholarly Publishers Association (OASPA), and the World Association of Medical Editors (WAME). 

•AJTIS checks submitted manuscripts for plagiarism. Articles that pass the initial screening are scanned for plagiarism using iThenticate or Turnitin software. If plagiarism or self-plagiarism is detected, the authors are informed. Editors may, if necessary, subject the manuscript to plagiarism checks at various stages of the review or production process. High similarity rates may result in the rejection of a manuscript before or even after acceptance. Similarity index must not exceed 20%.
• The publication processes implemented by AJTIS provide a foundation for the impartial and reputable development and dissemination of knowledge. Accordingly, these processes directly reflect the quality of the work produced by authors and the institutions supporting them. Peer-reviewed studies are those that embody and support the scientific method. At this point, it is important that all stakeholders in the process (authors, readers and researchers, the publisher, reviewers, and editors) adhere to standards of ethical principles.
• AJTIS expects all stakeholders to assume the following ethical responsibilities within the scope of publication ethics:
The ethical duties and responsibilities listed below have been prepared in accordance with the guidelines and policies published by the Committee on Publication Ethics (COPE) as open access. If situations such as the manipulation or distortion of data used in articles, or the use of fabricated data, are detected, this will be officially reported to the institution where the author is employed, and the manuscript will be rejected. AJTIS reserves the right to request output files related to the analysis results from the authors in line with feedback provided by editors and/or reviewers.
• The manuscripts derived from conference papers must be submitted with a signed declaration that "This manuscript has not been previously published and will not be published elsewhere.” This is because duplication/scientific misconduct/multiple publication constitutes a violation.

According to the TÜBİTAK Publication Ethics Committee, redundant publication is defined as submitting or publishing the same research results in more than one journal. If an article has already been reviewed and published, any subsequent publications are considered redundant publication.
 

Publication Ethics Statement
Correction, Withdrawal, Statement of Concern
Editors may consider issuing a correction if minor errors are identified in a published article that do not affect the findings, interpretations, or conclusions. Editors should consider withdrawing an article when major errors or violations are present that invalidate the findings and results. If there is evidence of potential research or publication misconduct by the authors, if the reliability of the findings is in question and the authors’ institution has not investigated the matter, or if an investigation appears to be unfair or inconclusive, editors may consider issuing a statement of concern.

COPE and ICMJE guidelines are taken into account regarding corrections, withdrawals, and statements of concern.

Plagiarism Action Plan and Preventive Measures
AJTIS respects intellectual property and aims to protect and promote the original work of its authors. Manuscripts containing plagiarism are contrary to standards of quality, research, and innovation. Therefore, all authors submitting manuscripts to the journal are expected to comply with ethical standards and to avoid plagiarism in any form. If plagiarism is suspected in a submitted or published manuscript, the manuscript is first reviewed by the journal’s Ethics Editor. It is then examined by the Editorial Board. Subsequently, the journal contacts the author(s) within two weeks to request an explanation. If no response is received from the author within the specified period, AJTIS contacts the author’s affiliated university and requests an investigation of the allegation.

AJTIS will take the following serious measures against published articles found to contain plagiarism:
1. AJTIS will immediately contact the author(s)’ affiliated university in order to initiate formal action against the author(s). 

2. AJTIS will remove the PDF copy of the published article from its website and disable all links to the full text. The phrase “Plagiarized Article” will be added to the title of the published article. 

3. AJTIS will deactivate the author’s account and reject all future submissions from the author for a period of three years.

Actions contrary to scientific research and publication ethics are as follows:

Plagiarism: Presenting others’ ideas, methods, data, practices, writings, figures, or works partially or wholly as one’s own work without proper citation in accordance with scientific rules.

Fabrication: Producing data that is not based on research; organizing, altering, reporting, or publishing a submitted or published work based on false data; or presenting a study that was not conducted as if it had been carried out.

Manipulation: Manipulating research records and obtained data; presenting methods, devices, or materials that were not used in the research as if they had been used; excluding data that do not fit the research hypothesis; altering data and/or results to align them with relevant theories or assumptions; or distorting or shaping research results in line with the interests of individuals or organizations from which support was received.

Redundant publication: Presenting multiple works containing the same research results as separate publications in associate professorship examinations and academic promotions. 

Salami-slicing: Slicing the results of a single study into inappropriate segments in a way that disrupts the integrity of the research, publishing them as multiple separate articles without proper cross-referencing, and presenting them as distinct works in associate professorship examinations and academic promotions.  

Unfair authorship: Including individuals who have not made an active contribution among the authors; excluding individuals who have made an active contribution from the list of authors; changing the order of authors without justification or in an inappropriate manner; removing the names of contributors during publication or in subsequent editions; or using influence to include one’s name among the authors without having made an active contribution.
 

Responsibilities of Stakeholders
Our readers and stakeholders may report any significant errors or violations of scientific research and publication ethics they identify in articles published in AJTIS by emailing translation@ibu.edu.tr 

Such reports are welcomed as they provide an opportunity for improvement, and we aim to respond in a prompt and constructive manner.

A) Editors' Responsibilities

The editors and section editors of AJTIS shall adhere to the following ethical duties and responsibilities based on the Code of Conduct and Best Practice Guidelines for Journal Editors, the COPE Best Practice Guidelines for Journal Editors published by the Committee on Publication Ethics (COPE), and the Publication Ethics Flowcharts developed by COPE for possible cases of misconduct or breaches of publication ethics:

Impartiality and Editorial Independence: Editors review submitted manuscripts based on their relevance to the journal’s scope, as well as the significance and originality of the work. Editors do not take into account the race, gender, sexual orientation, ethnic origin, nationality, or political views of the authors submitting manuscripts. Decisions regarding correction or publication cannot be influenced by any institution other than the journal’s editorial board. Editors ensure that published issues contribute to readers, researchers, practitioners, and the scientific field, and that they are of an original nature.

Independence: The relationship between editors (Editors-in-Chief and Associate Editors) and the publisher is based on the principle of editorial independence. According to the written agreement between the editors and the publisher, all editorial decisions are independent of the publisher and the journal owner. Editors must reject incomplete or flawed research that does not comply with journal policy, publication rules, and standards, without being influenced by any external pressure.

Confidentiality: Editors cannot share information about a submitted manuscript with anyone other than the corresponding author, reviewers, and the editorial board. They ensure that manuscripts reviewed by at least two reviewers are assessed according to a double-blind peer review system and maintain the anonymity of the reviewers.

Notification and Conflicts of Interest: Editors and editorial board members do not use unpublished information contained in submitted manuscripts for their own research purposes without the authors’ explicit written consent. Editors must not have any conflicts of interest regarding manuscripts they accept or reject.

Publication Decision: Editors ensure that all manuscripts accepted for publication are subjected to peer review by at least two experts in the relevant field. Editors are responsible for deciding which manuscripts submitted to the journal will be published, based on the validity of the study, its importance to researchers and readers, reviewers’ comments, and applicable legal requirements. Editors have the authority and responsibility to accept or reject manuscripts and must exercise this responsibility appropriately and in a timely manner.

Ethical Concerns: Editors will take action when ethical concerns arise regarding a submitted manuscript or a published article. They continue their processes without compromising intellectual property rights and ethical standards. Any reported unethical publishing behavior will be investigated, even if it is identified years after publication. In cases of ethical concerns, editors follow the COPE Flowcharts. If the issues are significant, corrections, withdrawal, or statement of concern may be issued in the journal.

Cooperation with Journal Boards: Editors ensure that all members of the editorial/advisory board conduct their processes in accordance with publication policies and guidelines. They inform editorial/advisory board members about the journal’s publication policies. They also ensure that editorial/advisory board members evaluate their work independently.

B) Authors' Responsibilities

Reporting Standards: Authors of original research must ensure that the study and its results are presented accurately, and that the significance of the study is discussed objectively. The manuscript should contain sufficient detail and references.

Data Access and Storage: Authors are required to retain the raw data of their studies. When necessary, they must provide it for editorial review upon request by the journal. 

Originality and Plagiarism: Authors must submit entirely original works, and if they have used the work or words of others, these must be appropriately cited. Plagiarism in all its forms constitutes unethical publishing behavior and is unacceptable. Therefore, a similarity report is required from all authors submitting manuscripts to the journal. 

Authorship: Only individuals who meet authorship criteria should be listed as authors of the manuscript. The corresponding author must ensure that all eligible contributors are included in the author list and must confirm that all authors have reviewed the final version of the manuscript and agreed to its submission for publication. 

Disclosure and Conflicts of Interest: Authors must disclose any conflicts of interest by submitting a disclosure form at the time of manuscript submission or by including a statement within the article. All sources of financial support for the study must be declared.   

Peer Review Process: Authors are required to participate in the peer review process and to fully cooperate by promptly responding to editors’ requests for raw data, clarifications, evidence of ethical approval, and copyright permissions. In cases where a “revision required” decision is made, authors must systematically revise their manuscripts in response to reviewers’ comments and resubmit them by the specified deadline.

Errors in Published Works: When authors discover significant errors or inaccuracies in their own published work, they are obliged to immediately inform the journal editors or the publisher and to cooperate with the editors or publisher to correct the article or to withdraw it from publication.

C) Reviewers' Responsibilities 

Contribution to Editorial Decisions: Reviewers help editors in making editorial decisions and help authors improve their manuscripts through editorial contact. They should be able to identify and point out missing elements related to the manuscript, such as relevant articles, references, citations, writing guidelines, and similar requirements, and indicate the need for their revisions. 

Timeline: Any reviewer who does not feel qualified to review a manuscript or who believes they will not be able to complete the review within the required time should immediately inform the editors and decline the review invitation, thereby allowing a new reviewer to be assigned. 

Confidentiality: All manuscripts submitted for review are confidential documents and must be treated as such. This also applies to reviewers who decline the review invitation.   

Objectivity: Reviews should be conducted impartially, and comments should be formulated in a way that authors can use them to improve their manuscripts. Personal criticism of authors is not appropriate.

Acknowledgment of Sources: Reviewers should identify relevant published works that have not been cited by the authors. They should also inform the editor of any substantial similarities between the manuscript under review and any other article (published or unpublished).

Conflicts of Interest: Any conflicts of interest must be reported to the editor. Reviewers should not have any conflicts of interest with the stakeholders of the manuscript under review.

Double-Blind Peer Review Processes
Editors are responsible for implementing the “Double-Blind Peer Review Process” policies set out in the journal’s publication policy. In this regard, editors ensure that each manuscript undergoes a fair, impartial, and timely review process.

Quality Assurance
Editors are responsible for ensuring that every article published in the journal is published in accordance with the journal’s publication policies and international standards.

Protection of Personal Data
Editors are responsible for ensuring the protection of personal data related to participants or images included in the reviewed studies. They are obliged to reject studies unless informed consent has been obtained from individuals whose data are used. Editors are also responsible for protecting the personal data of authors, reviewers, and readers.

Prevention of Possible Misconduct and Abuse of Authority
Editors are responsible for taking measures against possible misconduct and abuse of authority. Conducting a thorough and objective investigation into identifying and evaluating complaints related to such cases, as well as sharing relevant findings, is among the editors’ responsibilities.

Academic Publication Integrity
Editors should ensure the prompt correction of any errors, inconsistencies, or misleading statements identified in published works.

Protection of Intellectual Property Rights
Editors are responsible for protecting the intellectual property rights of all published articles and for defending the rights of the journal and the author(s) in cases of potential violations.

Constructiveness and Openness to Discussion
Editors should take into account well-founded criticisms regarding articles published in AJTIS and adopt a constructive approach toward such feedback. Authors of the criticized works should be given the right of reply.

Complaints
Editors are responsible for carefully reviewing complaints from authors, reviewers, or readers and responding to them in a clear and informative manner.

Conflicts of Interest
Editors ensure that the publication process is completed independently and impartially by taking into account potential conflicts of interest between authors, reviewers, and other editors. For multi-author manuscripts, the final version of the article, after the peer review process is completed, must include a statement of contribution rates, as well as any funding and acknowledgment statements and conflict of interest declarations, if applicable.

If members of the journal’s editorial boards submit manuscripts to AJTIS, all of their duties for the relevant issue are suspended. The violation of the double-blind peer review system is not permitted under any circumstances.