Arabic Translation Research Articles

Nominal Case in Christian Arabic Translations of the Gospels (9th-15th Centuries CE)

Abstract Middle Arabic is conventionally defined as existing on a spectrum between colloquial Arabic on the low end and Classical Arabic on the high end. Differences between Middle Arabic and Classical Arabic that are not attested in a modern dialect are typically treated, historically at least, as due to pseudo-correction. This is especially true of non-Classical manifestations of nominal case. In this paper, I tag all instances of alif al-tanwīn – which in Qurʾānic and Classical Arabic marks the accusative on triptotic nouns that do not end in tāʾ marbūṭa – from representative portions of the manuscripts, both vocalized and unvocalized, of 15 Christian translations of the gospels into Arabic dating from the 9th to 15th centuries CE. The data demonstrate, contrary to previous descriptions, that the majority of case inflection is written in line with Classical Arabic norms. Further, the syntactic contexts in which non-Classical case markings occur follow regular patterns, which recur with remarkable consistency across time and manuscript. Instead of originating in pseudo-corrections, I propose the differences from Classical Arabic originated in attempts by Christian scribes to represent a variety of Arabic in which a vowel merger before tanwīn resulting in a single morpheme erased the vocalic distinctions between case vowels. These syntactic contexts include nominative, genitive, and accusative ones. Since Christian Arabic differed from the varieties for which the Arabic script and subsequent vocalizations were developed to write, scribes originally varied in the degree to which they adhered to the writing conventions, with some closely adhering and others taking greater liberties in order to represent the underlying variety with greater nuance. Over time, this led to several scribal traditions for writing tanwīn in Christian manuscripts, each of which is attested among the vocalized manuscripts included in this study and discussed in detail.

Prevalence of injecting drug use and HIV, hepatitis B, and hepatitis C in people who inject drugs in the Eastern Mediterranean region: a systematic review and meta-analysis

Considerable disease burden is attributed to injecting drug use (IDU). This regional systematic review and meta-analysis aimed to assess the prevalence of IDU and the characteristics of people who inject drugs in the 22 countries of the WHO Eastern Mediterranean region. We conducted a systematic review and meta-analysis on the prevalence of IDU, estimation of the population size of people who inject drugs, the characteristics of people who inject drugs, commonly injected drugs, the prevalence of HIV, hepatitis C virus, and hepatitis B virus in people who inject drugs, and opioid agonist treatment and needle and syringe programme services. We searched PubMed, Web of Science, Scopus, Embase, and the Index Medicus for the Eastern Mediterranean Region for documents published between Jan 1, 2010, and April 17, 2022, with no language restrictions. We also searched government reports, civil society information, and UN websites and databases for grey literature published between Jan 1, 2010, and April 17, 2022. Documents were eligible if they reported or estimated an indicator of interest, or reported enough data to permit calculation of the indicator. We extracted data from the eligible documents and calculated national and regional estimates. We identified 38 283 documents and included 201 documents in the systematic review. A total of 115 documents were included for the four outcomes for which meta-analyses were performed. The number of people who inject drugs was estimated as 864 597 (95% CI 641 909-1 205 255), amounting to a prevalence of 20·0 per 10 000 adults (95% CI 14·9-27·9) in the region. Among people who inject drugs, the prevalence of HIV was estimated as 19·22% (95% CI 12·86-26·36), hepatitis C virus as 44·82% (29·32-61·16), and hepatitis B virus as 2·66% (0·84-7·26). Countries varied greatly regarding the variables of interest and the availability of relevant data. Nine countries provided needle and syringe programme services and seven countries provided opioid agonist treatment services, mostly with very low, low, or unclear coverage. The prevalence of IDU in the Eastern Mediterranean region is lower than the global mean, particularly among women. The HIV infection rate is higher than the global mean, and the hepatitis C virus infection rate is lower than the global mean. Harm-reduction services are underdeveloped. Data collection on IDU and provision of services need improvement in the region. World Health Organization. For the Arabic, Farsi and French translations of the abstract see Supplementary Materials section.

Measuring public attitudes towards people living with chronic diseases in Arabic-speaking populations: adaptation and development of the Social Stigma Scale of Chronic Diseases (SSS-CD)

BackgroundA large proportion of the population in Arab countries suffer from chronic diseases. According to the statistics by the Global Health Estimates, chronic illnesses contribute by 71% to total deaths in the Arab region. While chronic illnesses have been demonstrated to carry high levels of social stigma, it is only recently that little research attention has been given to this topic in the Arab world. It is well-established that the social stigma construct is culturally-dependent. Therefore, the lack of an Arabic measure highlighted the urgent need for developing a culturally adapted and valid instrument to assess social stigma toward people living with chronic diseases. In this study, we aimed to examine the psychometric properties of the Arabic translation, adaptation and development of “the Social Stigma Scale of Chronic Diseases” (SSS-CD).MethodFifteen items derived from the literature and assessing social stigma towards chronic diseases have been administered to 570 Arabic-speaking adults from the Lebanese general population (aged 24.59 ± 6.75years; 68.6% women). Items were translated into Arabic using a forward-backward translation method. Exploratory factor analysis (EFA) using a principal-axis EFA on the first split-half subsample, followed by a confirmatory factor analysis (CFA) tested on the model extracted from the EFA on the second split-half subsample, were conducted to examine the construct validity of the SSS-CD. Fit indices were deemed adequate if the normed model chi-square (χ²/df) ≤ 3, the Steiger-Lind root mean square error of approximation (RMSEA) ≤ 0.08, the Tucker-Lewis Index (TLI) and the comparative fit index (CFI) ≥ 0.90.ResultsFindings revealed that the 10-item SSS-CD has a unidimensional factor structure, with the following fit indices: χ2/df = 92.95/34 = 2.73, RMSEA = 0.077 (90% CI 0.059, 0.096), SRMR = 0.062, CFI = 0.939, TLI = 0.919. A good internal consistency was demonstrated by a McDonald’s omega value of 0.73 for the total score. Findings also supported invariance across gender, with men exhibiting higher levels of social stigma attached to chronic diseases than women. All three dimensions of stigmatization (social, psychological and evolutionary stigmatization) were positively correlated with SSS-CD scores (Social self-interest [r = .40; p < .001], Evolutionary self-interest [r = .37; p < .001], Psychological self-interest [r = .42; p < .001]), demonstrating relatively strong convergent validity.ConclusionOur findings suggest that the SSS-CD has robust psychometric qualities. We thus preliminarily suggest that the scale is valid, reliable and suitable for use among Arabic-speaking people from the general population to measure public attitudes towards people living with chronic diseases. Providing this psychometrically sound measure will hopefully enable to foster research in this area in order to draw a clear overview of the prevalence and characteristics of social stigma attached to chronic diseases in Arabic-speaking communities. However, given that this was the first study to examine the psychometric properties of the SSS-CD, the present findings and conclusions should be considered tentative pending future cross-national validation studies.

A Study on the Profiles of Arabic Translation-Translator Candidates in Turkish Higher Education

Translation, an ancient activity, has only been acknowledged as an independent discipline since the 1970s. Translation Studies was introduced as a program in Turkish higher education in the 1980s, with English translation and interpreting programs being the first to emerge. It was not until 2011 that the first program for training Arabic translators and interpreters was established at Kırıkkale University. Subsequently, the same program was introduced in nine other universities. In this study, we explore the profiles of prospective Arabic translators and interpreters in ten Turkish universities offering undergraduate-level programs for Arabic translation and interpreting, focusing on various aspects such as gender, geographical location, educational background, high school type, academic ranking, foreign language test scores, program preferences, and post-graduation plans. Our findings indicate that female students show a greater inclination towards the program, with one-third of the students choosing the program in their city. Arabic translator-interpreter candidates mostly originate from the Central Anatolian Region, with one-third being recent graduates and another third being experienced ones. More than half of the students who enrolled in the program graduated from Imam-Hatip High School, and top-performing students are less inclined to select this program. On average, a language test score of forty-six is required for admission to the program. Finally, we found that students who completed the program often preferred programs related to Arabic language teaching and literature.

Psychometric properties of an Arabic translation of the Inflexible Eating Questionnaire (IEQ) in a non-clinical sample of adults

BackgroundThe Inflexible Eating Questionnaire (IEQ) is an 11-item instrument designed to evaluate the behavioural and psychological components of inflexible eating. However, the psychometric properties of the instrument have been infrequently examined, and no previous work has examined its utility in the context of the Middle East.MethodsA total of 826 Lebanese citizens and residents completed a novel Arabic translation of the IEQ, as well as previously validated measures of body appreciation, functionality appreciation, and disordered eating.ResultsThe unidimensional factor structure of the IEQ was upheld through both exploratory and confirmatory factor analyses, with all 11 items retained. We obtained evidence of scalar invariance across gender and found that there were no significant differences in observed IEQ scores between men and women. IEQ scores were also found to have adequate composite reliability and adequate patterns of concurrent validity.ConclusionThe present findings provide support for the psychometric properties of the Arabic version of the IEQ in examining inflexible eating in Arabic-speaking adults in Lebanon.Plain English SummaryInflexible or rigid dietary restraint reflects an all-or-none approach that encompasses feeling compelled to obey a set of self-imposed dieting rules (e.g., avoiding high-calorie food, calorie counting, fasting to lose weight and/or skipping meals), having a sense of self-control and feeling empowered when adhering to these rules, and not respecting or following internal/external cues of hunger, satiety, and appetite. Therefore, the inflexible eating construct is composed of two dimensions, the first one is behavioural (i.e., obeying restrictive dietary rules) and the second one is psychological (i.e., the belief that following these rules is a consistent must). Until recently, the measures designed to assess inflexible eating focused on the behavioral dimension, while omitting to account for the psychological processes underlying the construct. To bridge this gap, the Inflexible Eating Questionnaire (IEQ), an 11-item self-report measure, was developed to assess both the behavioural and psychological components of dietary restraint. To date, the IEQ is not yet validated in Arabic. Through the present study, we aimed to examine the psychometric properties of an Arabic translation of the IEQ, which would in turn facilitate improved research and clinical practices related to dietary restraint in Arabic-speaking nations. Overall, findings provided support for the good psychometric qualities of the Arabic version of the IEQ, which suggests its utility for detecting inflexible eating in Arabic-speaking adults.

Asir before World War I: Ideological Representations of the Local Tribes and Translational Shifts

This paper aims to examine the representation of Asiri people in Asir before World War I (Cornwallis 1976), a historical British travel writing book, and its respective Arabic translation. Following Toury’s (1995) descriptive approach and van Leuven-Zwart’s (1989) model of shift analysis, I investigate the impact of particular sociocultural factors on the image construction process in terms of Asiris’ personal and physical characteristics, ethnic heritage, and traditional values and practices. Then, I explore the impact of these shifts on the macro level of meaning and overall representation of people and traditions of Asir. The study finds the representation of the local people in the book is pragmatic and strictly goes in line with the colonial agenda and perspectives. Furthermore, the translation shows frequent patterns of modification, mutation shifts and omissions related to the representation and depiction of the local people (individuals and groups) reported in the original text.

English /Arabic Translation of cultural references

English /Arabic Translation of cultural references

"The Power of Plea: An Analysis of Persuasive Language in Al Aswany's 'The Yacoubian Building' ; with Implications for Arabic Translation"

"The Power of Plea: An Analysis of Persuasive Language in Al Aswany's 'The Yacoubian Building' ; with Implications for Arabic Translation"

Metaphors Are Missing: Critique of Arabic Translation Strategies of Gendered Metaphors

This article falls within the broad area of translation studies in the context of feminist translation. It focuses on the strategies employed in translating gendered metaphors, and it carries out a critical analysis of gendered metaphors translation in Doris Lessing’s novel The Cleft (2007) and its two Arabic translations. The first translation is done by Mohamed Darwish under the title (The Female) (Al- Ūntha) 2008 and published by Mohamed Bin Rashid Al Maktoum Foundation. The second translation is done by Mohamed Ibrahim Al Abdalla under the title (The Rift) (Al- Ṣād)) 2012 and published by the Arab Writers Union. The article focuses on and examines the cases where the translation of gendered metaphor presents challenge to Arab translator because of cultural differences. It argues that the areas where the translation of unconventional gendered metaphor challenges target culture deserve attention and need to be examined. The article offers a critique of the translation strategies employed by Arab translators for these unconventional metaphors. The article argues that gendered metaphors that appeared in feminist literary works invites different translation strategies when it is translated from English into Arabic. The article shows to what extant feminism values and agenda are reflected in Gendered metaphors that are developed by female writers. The analysis of translation strategies that Arab translators utilised in their translations of these metaphors intends to show which strategy is able to ensure a balanced representation of the author's and the translator's voices and render gendered non-traditional images in different cultures. The study vouches for hybridity as a strategy in translating gendered metaphors from English into Arabic, the article argues that Arab translators who are dealing with verbal gendered metaphor might need to adopt new approaches/ translation strategies to render the purpose of these metaphors in a different culture and bridges the gap in feminism discourse.

Musykilātu Tarjamati Al-Nushus Al-‘Arabiyati wa Mu’ālajatuha

This study discusses the problems faced by Islamic Boarding School students of Al-Azhar Pegasing Takengon in Arabic script translation skills. The problem is how to transfer speech from the source language to the target language without changing the original meaning and therefore it can be understood by the readers of the target language properly and correctly. Consequently, there is a need for a communicative translation theory, namely a theory that departs from understanding the writing and language aspects of the target language reader. The research method employed in this article is a descriptive approach, while the method of collecting data and research information uses two methods, including library research methods and field research methods. The problems faced by students in learning translation are: (1) weak vocabulary understanding, (2) weakness in understanding morphology and syntax rules, (3) weakness in understanding the use of verb changes, (4) lack of repetition of Arabic text material independently , (5) Difficulty in constructing Indonesian sentences, (6) poor ability to distinguish between idhafah and conjunctions. Several solutions are offered which include students developing motivation to learn translation because translation is one of the important lessons in our religion (understanding Islamic and Sharia law), and they must enrich themselves with a wealth of language rules so that they can easily translate texts. Arabic text and they should learn the translation well.

An Arabic-Greek Codex of Ptolemy’s Handy Tables from the Eighth Century

Abstract A Greek copy of Ptolemy’s Handy Tables and an Arabic translation of Theon’s Short Commentary on them survive as undertexts in the palimpsest manuscript Vat. sir. 623. pt. 2. The parchment leaves containing these texts were recycled into a new codex at the Monastery of St. Catherine on Sinai in the late ninth century, but they belonged to the same original manuscript and are considered the only surviving witnesses to the project of translating Greek thought into Arabic at the so-called “House of Wisdom” in Baghdad during the second half of the eighth century. In order to show the importance of this startling discovery made in the Vatican Library, the article not only includes an historical, codicological, and paleographical examination of the erased texts and repurposed folios, but also presents an astronomical explanation of the theories and calculations they contain. The article highlights the list of Greek-Arabic winds and its link to Ptolemy’s Horizon Diagram, as well as stresses the continued applicability of Ptolemy and Theon’s presentations. It further argues for a reconsideration of the meaning of an ancient theory of the “inclinations” that the Sun and the Moon (or the Moon and the Earth’s shadow) create during eclipses, the phenomenon which is called prosneusis.

Arabic translation, cultural adaptation, and validation of the Bristol Impact of Hypermobility questionnaire

BackgroundThe Bristol Impact of Hypermobility questionnaire (BIoH) is the first condition-specific patient reported outcome measure for people with hypermobility-related conditions. The BIoH original version is in English, which limits its use for patients who speak other languages. The study aimed to translate and culturally adapt the BIoH into Arabic and determine its concurrent validity, reliability, internal consistency and smallest detectable change.MethodsForward-backward translation and cross-sectional designs were used. The Ethics Committee of Kuwait Ministry of Health approved the study. Spearman correlation coefficient, intraclass correlation coefficient (ICC), and Cronbach’s α were used for statistical analysis. Patients with hypermobility spectrum disorders (HSD) were included, diagnosed using the 2017 classification framework.Results55 HSD patients were included, aged 26.0 (18.0) years old; median (IQR), and 85.5% were women. The BIoH showed very good concurrent validity when correlated with the SF-12 total and physical component scores; r = -0.743 and − 0.740, respectively (p < 0.05). Good correlation was identified between the BIoH and the SF-12 mental component score; r = -0.496 (p < 0.05). The BIoH demonstrated excellent test-retest reliability; ICC = 0.934 (0.749–0.983 95% CI) (p < 0.05), and high internal consistency (Cronbach’s α = 0.933). The smallest detectable change was 30.90 points, representing 19.8% of the mean baseline score.ConclusionsThe study successfully translated the BIoH into Arabic and demonstrated high psychometric properties. The translated score can help Arabic patients with HSD in their clinical evaluation process. Future research needs to determine the responsiveness of the Arabic version and translate the BIoH to other languages.

Arabic Translation Works in Expressing a Resistance: Case Study in Colonized Land Poetry of Nizar Qabbani

Arabic Translation Works in Expressing a Resistance: Case Study in Colonized Land Poetry of Nizar Qabbani

CHALLENGES OF TRANSLATING COVID-19 TERMINOLOGY INTO ARABIC: A STUDY OF MACHINE TRANSLATION AND LINGUISTIC MEANS

The COVID-19 pandemic has given rise to a plethora of new words and terminology in various languages, including Arabic. This linguistic phenomenon stems from the need to describe and discuss the unique circumstances and developments surrounding the pandemic. This study aims to find out the challenges faced by Arabic translators when incorporating these newly coined terms into the Arabic language and culture. The localization of COVID-19 terminology is a complex and challenging task, but it is essential to ensure that Arabic speakers have access to accurate and up-to-date information about the pandemic. The results indicate that there are linguistic and cultural challenges in the English-Arabic translation of COVID-19 prevention and control terminology. By using a variety of linguistic techniques, Arabic translators can help ensure that these new terms are accurately and effectively localized into Arabic.&lt;p&gt; &lt;/p&gt;&lt;p&gt;&lt;strong&gt; Article visualizations:&lt;/strong&gt;&lt;/p&gt;&lt;p&gt;&lt;img src="/-counters-/soc/0001/a.php" alt="Hit counter" /&gt;&lt;/p&gt;

Challenges of Translating Slang Expressions in American Song Lyrics of the 21st Century into the Arabic Language

Slangs are phrases that have strong roots in the culture of a given social and cultural stratum; translating them is challenging. Slang is a kind of daily socio-linguistic manifestation that emerges from a particular socio-cultural or socio-economic group's efforts to codify its members' ideology or mental projections. Slang refers to a language or set of words that are widely used but seldom defined. This study is an Arabic translation of slang used in 21st-century American songs. The research also examines how the slang was translated and the attributes that made them practical communication tools. Arabic speakers learning American English will benefit most from this concentration on slang and its context. The analysis is carried out through the thematic analysis method based on an apparent qualitative study. Twenty (20) slang terms borrowed from 21st-century American pop songs were adapted to be translated into Arabic. The study's data consists of slang expressions in the song lyrics of two American hip-hop/rap singers, Eminem and Wiz Khalifa. Marshal Mathers II by Eminem (2013) and Khalifa by Wiz Khalifa (2016) were picked as the only albums by each artist. To communicate with native Arabic speakers, the researcher modified the English-Arabic Translator used for superficial translation. Functional equivalents, social equivalents, modulations, substitution, and paraphrases are the main translation strategies adopted in translating the selected slang into formal Arabic. Based on the thematic evaluation, it was discovered that paraphrasing is the most effective strategy for translating American slang into Arabic. Consequently, the research shows that the meanings of slang terms are affected by context and situational variability. The conclusion is that slang plays a significant part in a conversation. To utilize it fully, learners must be familiar with their contexts and interpretations.

Lost in (Mis)Translation: Paratextual Framing in Selected Arabic Translations of Orwell’s Animal Farm

Paratextuality plays a key role in cultural stereotyping and ideological framing of the translated texts and pre-positions the reader by setting certain expectations (Baker 2006). They also serve as a tool of adaptation (Genette 1997), superimposing certain interpretations of the author’s intentions and ideologies. Here, George Orwell’s Animal Farm is an optimum example. The rising interest in its Arabic translation, especially in the wake of the Arab Spring uprisings bears on the politicized readings of the text, as manifested in the paratextual elements accompanying its translations. The present study investigates the role of paratextual renderings of Animal Farm in mainstreaming ideological frames and cultural stereotypes about the narrative. Drawing on Genette (1997), we close-read peritexts of the Arabic translations and probe potential paratextual functions. So far, sixteen plus Arabic translations of the novel have been published. This recent translational influx reflects, besides literary and cultural significance of the novella, an increasing interest in reading it as symbolizing the recent socio-political change. As a process where content transfer and transform(ation) overlap, translation involves an inevitable degree of bias (Venuti 2012). Orwell’s novella was largely appropriated by Arabic translators as a political manifesto, to the disregard of its other literary and cultural valances. For Arab readership, Animal Farm belongs to a long line of allegorical tales, not so much different from works like Kalila wa Dimna (The Panchatantra), where the political largely prevails over the literary. The present study thus draws on Lefevere (1992), Genette (1997), Kress and van Leeuwen (2006), Van Dijk (2003), and Baker (2006) in exploring paratextual elements as potential sites for translatorial/editorial intervention, ideological framing, and cultural appropriation of the translated text. It investigates the use of paratextual elements as sites for contestation of agency and validity, and also for interpretive foreclosure in ways that suppress/miss potential layers of meaning in the novella.

A Critical Discourse Analysis of Translators’ Narratives Affecting Two Translations of the Same Text: A Case Study of Orientalism

The present study set out to examine the translations of Edward Said’s Orientalism in light of narrative theory. The paper uses critical discourse analysis to examine the different narratives produced by two different Arabic translations of Orientalism, written originally in English. The first translation was produced by Kamal Abu Deeb in 1980, and a later one was carried out by Mohammad Enani in 2006. Our findings demonstrate two competing narratives of two cultures standing in opposition to one another, with each translation implying that one of these civilizations is unique and inherently competitive with “the other” culture.

MS On İkinci Yüzyıl / MS On Sekizinci Yüzyılda Rusya'nın Güneyinde, Dağıstan Bölgesindeki Derbend Şehri Mezarlığındaki İslami Mezar Taşları: "Biçim ve İçerik Çalışması”

This research presents a descriptive study of Islamic Gravestones illustrated catalogue in Derbend cemetery of Dāġhastān dating to before the end of the twelfth century AH / Eighteenth century AD (all dates are specified as either Years of Hijrah or Persian calendar with numbers). Where it turns out there are approximately 43 gravestones have been registered in 3 locations: in Derbend Cemetery; Kīrkẖliyār or Narin-Kala, Dūl-Dūl, and Šaykẖ Ṣalāḥ. No Gravestones found inside mosques, museums, and through the results of archaeological excavations date back to the 12th century AH/ 18th AD century. Previously uncovered were some fragments of Gravestones unearthed from previous excavations. For the types have found in the museums and shrines, are not dated to the same time, and dates back to the early decade of the 19th-century. The Archeological field survey of Derbend cemetery, the ethnographic and cultural recording, material Sources and the uses of gravestones, Funerary Rituals and Practices and Combination tombs have been done by the author Muḥammad Nasir Ismail during the Visitation of Derbend cemetery. Followed by Reading the content and completing translation from original Arabic, Persian and Turkish-Dāġhastān texts to modern English, This was followed by additional proofreading of Arabic translations and original

Who’s Afraid of Genderfluid Turtles?

The Old Indian fable collection Panchatantra was first introduced to the Greco-Roman world in the eleventh century via Middle Persian and Arabic translations, under the Greek title Stephanites and Ichnelates. The first Greek version continued to be translated into various other languages over the centuries, from the thirteenth-century Old Slavonic Stefanid and Ihnilat, translated into modern Serbian as Stefanit and Ihnilat (1999). The extended second medieval Greek version had a myriad of translations as well, the most recent being the English 2022 edition of Animal Fables of the Courtly Mediterranean. Several translators over centuries navigated the ‘untranslatability’ of characters’ gender in this text, on the intersection of grammatical, social and ‘natural’ categories.&#x0D; Our inquiry raises questions of social and grammatical gender, across times and spaces, examining how human gender constructs are materialized in animal characters and narrated in diversely gendered languages.&#x0D; Querying the linguistic differences of gender, we compare stories of selected characters from three different fables in Greek, English, Old Slavonic, and Serbian versions, while also looking at the Arabic source text Kalila and Dimnah. In the case of the lion’s mother, translations avoid using a word for female lion while emphasizing her role as queen-dowager and mother at the cost of her animality. The story of the owls introduces different grammatical genders for the birds outside of the court, while the individual owl-ministers and their king have to be male. The most curious case is that of two turtles whose gender roles are firmly assigned in Arabic but become so fluid in Greek and Old Slavonic that the animals change gender mid-sentence. While the stories highlight historically contingent gender performativity, the fact that the modern translators impose stable gender and heterosexuality upon their characters, opens up the space for debate on (mis)interpretatinons of animal sexuality and the queering and worldmaking potential of translation.

Psychometric properties of an Arabic translation of the multidimensional social support scale (MSPSS) in a community sample of adults

BackgroundThere is a lack of methodologically strong measure to assess perceived social support among Arabic-speaking populations. Our main objective was therefore to examine the psychometric properties of an Arabic translation of the Multidimensional Social Support Scale (MSPSS) in a sample of Arabic-speaking Lebanese adults from the general population.MethodsWe adopted a cross-sectional design involving a convenience sample of 387 non-clinical Lebanese adults aged 26.17 ± 11.47 years (58.4% females). Participants were administered a web-based anonymous questionnaire containing the MSPSS, the 10-item Connor-Davidson Resilience Scale, and the Post traumatic growth Inventory-Short Form. The forward-backward translation method was applied. Confirmatory factor analysis (CFA) and gender invariance in the MSPSS were examined. McDonald’s ω coefficients were calculated as internal consistency indicators.ResultsThe Arabic MSPSS and its subscales have a high internal consistency with McDonald’s ω values between 0.94 and 0.97. CFA indicated that fit of the three-factor model was acceptable. All indices suggested that configural, metric, and scalar invariance was supported across gender. Both genders exhibited no significant difference in all MSPSS dimensions. Convergent validity was supported by showing that all three MSPSS sub-scores and total score correlated significantly and positively with resilience and posttraumatic growth scores.ConclusionAlthough further cross-cultural validations involving other Arab countries and communities are still needed, we preliminarily suggest that this scale is applicable to the broad Arabic-speaking people for the measurement of perceived social support in clinical and research contexts.