Jurnal Arbitrer is a peer-reviewed international journal published by Universitas Andalas. It is dedicated to high-quality, scholarly research on language policy, minority and less widely taught languages, linguistic rights, language ecology, the development of plurilingual competence, intercultural communication, and plurilingual didactics. We aim to foster academic exchange across disciplines and geographic boundaries, supporting studies that promote understanding of language’s role in society, education, and culture.

Scope of Submission

We welcome submissions on topics including, but not limited to:

• Multilingualism and social dynamics;
• Linguistic rights and language policy analysis;
• Language and environmental/ecological perspectives;
• Language use in pluralistic and multicultural societies;
• Acquisition and development of plurilingual and multilingual competence;
• Language teaching and learning strategies in diverse cultural contexts;
• Preservation and revitalization of minority and endangered languages;
• Studies in intercultural communication and dialogue.

Language Policy

Since 2017, all manuscripts must be submitted in English. Authors whose first language is not English should ensure their work has been reviewed for language accuracy before submission. The Language Center at Universitas Andalas offers copyediting services, but authors may also use professional editing or reliable software (e.g., Grammarly) and provide proof of language check.

Originality and Exclusivity

Submitted manuscripts must be original, unpublished, and not under consideration elsewhere. By submitting, authors affirm that the work has not been published and is not being simultaneously considered by another journal. Articles that fail to meet these requirements will be returned prior to peer review.

Manuscript Types

Regular Articles

These are full-length original research papers structured with Introduction, Methods, Results, Discussion, and Conclusions sections, clearly presenting new findings that contribute to the field.

• Length: up to 8000 words (excluding abstract, references, tables, figures).
• References: at least 20 scholarly sources.
• Abstract: 200–300 words summarizing purpose, methods, key results, and main conclusions.

Review Articles

Review articles critically evaluate and synthesize published research, offering insights, future research directions, and theoretical or practical implications.

• Length: 5000–7000 words.
• Abstract: 200–300 words.
• Title: must begin with “Review Article: …”.

Manuscript Format

• A4 paper, 2.5 cm margins, 1.5 line spacing, Times New Roman 12 pt font, submitted in MS Word (.doc/.docx). Use Arbitrer Submission template
• Title Page: includes running title (max 60 characters), full title (max 25 words), author names, affiliations, and full corresponding author contact details (address, phone, email).
• Abstract: a concise overview including background, objectives, methods, results, and implications.
• Keywords: up to eight keywords listed alphabetically.

Manuscript Structure 

Introduction

The Introduction sets the stage for the article. It should:

• Introduce the Topic: Provide background information on the research topic, explaining why it is important and relevant.
• State the Problem: Clearly outline the problem or the specific research question the study addresses.
• Review Relevant Literature: Summarize the related concepts and theories, then provide previous research on the topic, highlighting gaps or unresolved issues the current study aims to address.
• State the Objectives or Hypotheses: Clearly define the study's objectives and, if applicable, the hypotheses being tested.

Please avoid using subsections in the introduction. Instead, it should be written as a continuous flow of paragraphs.

Methods

The Methods section describes how the research was conducted. It should include:

• Study Design: Detail the type of study (e.g., experimental, observational, qualitative) and its design.
• Participants or Subjects: Describe the sample, including how participants were selected and relevant demographic information.
• Materials and Instruments: List and describe any tools, equipment, or instruments used in the study.
• Procedure: Explain the steps taken during the research, including data collection methods and any interventions.
• Data Analysis: Outline the statistical or analytical methods used to process and analyze the data.

For studies with human or animal participants, state:

• Ethics committee or IRB approval (with approval number);
• How informed consent was obtained;
• How participant anonymity and data confidentiality were safeguarded.

For further explanation, please visit Publication Ethics

Results

The Results section presents the findings of the study. It should:

• Present Data: Provide a clear and concise presentation of the data collected, often using tables, figures, and charts.
• Summarize Key Findings: Highlight the main findings, including statistical analyses and significance levels.
• Avoid Interpretation: The Results section should present data without interpretation or discussion, which is reserved for the next section.

Discussion

The Discussion interprets the findings and places them in context. It should:

• Interpret the Results: Discuss what the results mean about the research question or hypotheses.
• Compare with Previous Research: Compare the findings with previous studies' findings, noting any similarities, differences, or contradictions.
• Discuss Implications: Explore the implications of the findings for theory, practice, or policy.
• Limitations: Acknowledge any limitations of the study that may affect the interpretation or generalizability of the results.
• Future Directions: Suggest areas for future research based on the findings and limitations.

Conclusion

The Conclusion section of a research article or paper serves to summarize the key findings and insights from the study. It typically includes:

1. Summary of Key Findings: A brief recap of the most important results and how they address the research questions or objectives.
2. Implications: Discussion of the significance of the findings for theory, practice, policy, or further research. This may include the broader impact of the results on the field.
3. Limitations: Acknowledgment of any limitations in the study that may affect the interpretation of the results, ensuring a balanced view of the research's contributions.
4. Recommendations for Future Research: Suggestions for future studies that could build on the current research, addressing any gaps or new questions that emerged.
5. Final Thoughts: A concluding statement that ties together the research findings and their implications, often highlighting the value of the study and its contributions to the field.

The Conclusion should provide a clear and concise wrap-up of the research, emphasizing the most critical points and leaving the reader with a strong understanding of the study's contributions and significance.

Ethics Statement

In addition, we ask you to complete the relevant statement(s) below.  Please delete those that are not relevant to your data. Visit Publication Ethics for the detailed explanation. 

If your work involved human subjects, please include a statement here confirming that the relevant informed consent was obtained from those subjects, if the research was carried out in accordance with the Declaration of Helsinki, and if it includes the Ethical committee approval and the protocol number. A copy of the consent form (in English) can be submitted either in a data repository or under the section ‘Consent form’ while submitting the manuscript to the system.

If your work involved data collected from social media platforms, please include a statement here confirming that a) informed consent was obtained from participants or that participant data has been fully anonymized, and b) the platform(s)’ data redistribution policies were complied with.

If none of the above, please include a statement confirming that the authors have read and followed the ethical requirements for publication in Jurnal Arbitrer and that the current work does not involve human subjects, animal experiments, or any data collected from social media platforms.

Credit Author Statement 

Please outline the contributions of each co-author. Please visit Authorship Principles for a detailed explanation.

Acknowledgements 

In this section, mention all contributors who do not meet the criteria for authorship. In addition, please list any funding sources in this section. List funding sources in the standard way to facilitate compliance with the funder's requirements. If no funding has been provided for the research, please include the following sentence:

This research did not receive any specific grant from funding agencies in the public, commercial, or not-for-profit sectors.

Declaration of Competing Interests 

Please choose one appropriate statement from below and delete the one that does not apply (if applicable, please specify the nature of your competing interests). 

• The authors declare that they have no known competing financial interests or personal relationships that could have appeared to influence the work reported in this paper.
• The authors declare the following financial interests/personal relationships which may be considered as potential competing interests

For detail policy, please visit Competing Interest Policy

References

Follow APA (7th edition) format. Use a reference management tool (e.g., Mendeley) for consistency.

Figures and Tables

• Number consecutively (e.g., Table 1, Figure 1); cite in text.
• Provide editable files (not images) for tables.
• Submit high-resolution figures separately (TIFF, JPEG, Excel) at ≥300 dpi.
• Include clear captions and legends for all tables and figures.

Citation Policy

Jurnal Arbitrer expects all authors to follow responsible and ethical citation practices when preparing their manuscripts. Proper citation is essential for situating research within the scholarly community, acknowledging prior work, and maintaining the credibility of the published record.

Authors submitting to Jurnal Arbitrer must ensure that:

• All statements relying on external sources — including data, methods, theoretical frameworks, or prior findings — are properly cited.

• Citations are relevant, appropriate, and proportional to support the claims made in the manuscript.

• Original works are cited directly, rather than citing derivative sources such as review articles that summarize the original research.

• All cited sources have been personally read and verified by the authors.

• Wherever possible, authors prioritize peer-reviewed sources over non-peer-reviewed materials.

Prohibited Citation Practices

The following citation behaviors are considered unethical and unacceptable:

• Excessive self-citation to artificially inflate the authors’ citation metrics.

• Coordinated self-citation efforts between groups of authors to boost mutual citation counts.

• Gratuitous or unnecessary citation of articles published in Jurnal Arbitrer solely to increase the journal’s impact or citation metrics.

• Citing works not directly relevant to the manuscript or misrepresenting cited works.

• Preferential citation of the authors’ own publications, their friends’, peers’, or institutional colleagues’ work without scholarly justification.

• Geographically biased citation (e.g., citing only work from one country when the field is international in scope).

• Citing advertisements or promotional material, which are not considered scholarly sources.

• Overloading single points with an excessive number of citations, which does not add scholarly value.

Consequences of Citation Manipulation

If any form of citation manipulation is detected, Jurnal Arbitrer reserves the right to:

• Reject the manuscript outright.

• Report the issue to the authors’ affiliated institutions or funders for investigation.

• Issue corrections or retractions if the issue is discovered post-publication.

Authors are also encouraged to report any inappropriate citation pressure or manipulation they experience during the peer-review process, whether from reviewers or editors, directly to the publisher.

Ethical and Legal Compliance

Authors are responsible for:

• Ensuring originality and avoiding plagiarism or duplicate publication.
• Securing ethical approval for research involving human/animal subjects.
• Disclosing any financial or personal conflicts of interest.
• Acknowledging funding sources and non-author contributions.
• Participating in corrections or retractions if required.

Jurnal Arbitrer follows COPE guidelines: https://publicationethics.org. For detail, please check Publication Ethics

Supplementary Documents Required

• Cover Letter: Include manuscript title, author details, research summary, originality confirmation, and author approval.
• Ethics Compliance Statement: Confirm ethical approval and participant consent.
• Conflict of Interest Declaration: Disclose financial, institutional, or personal conflicts.

Correction and Retraction Policy

Jurnal Arbitrer maintains publication integrity:

• Minor corrections will be issued as notices.
• Major ethical breaches (e.g., plagiarism, data falsification) will result in retraction following COPE procedures.
• Ongoing investigations may lead to expressions of concern.

Submission Process

Submit all materials through the Jurnal Arbitrer Online Submission System. Upload supplementary documents as “Supplementary Files.” For questions, contact: arbitrer@hum.unand.ac.id.

Website and Publisher Links

Jurnal Arbitrer is published by Universitas Andalas. Visit the publisher and other journals at: https://unand.ac.id. The journal provides direct linking for transparency and discoverability.