Lost in translation: unravelling the lexical intricacies of trust in Arabic

Abstract

Studies on trust have traditionally focused on its categories and scope, or the role of institutions, cultures, and norms in shaping trust dynamics. These conceptualizations of trust have been widely employed in cross-cultural studies while limited attention has been given to the linguistic aspects of trust realization in different languages. This study, therefore, employs a multifaceted methodology to explore the linguistic realization of trust in Arabic. Root-and-pattern morphology in Arabic generates a rich trust-related vocabulary, revealing two central themes: trust as bolstering, reflecting an evaluation of strength and measured reliance, and trust as peace and tranquillity, embodying inner calm and emotional security. Through an analysis of these themes and examples from various Arabic corpora and dictionaries, the study underscores the importance of integrating language-specific factors into cross-cultural trust research.