Getting to Trusted

Factors that affect the degree to which content (e.g., a Bible translation, a Greek New Testament, etc.) increases in “trustedness.“ In contrast with the trustworthiness of a text or the license under which it is made available, the trust that others place in a text cannot be controlled, only predisposed. Along these lines, note that all the external factors are directly predisposable to the degree that funding is brought to bear.

INTRINSIC:

transparency – degree of clarity and consistency of production process (e.g., adherence to translation brief, consistency and transparency in text-critical method, etc.)
acceptability – degree to which content meets audience needs while avoiding niche or ideological peripheries (i.e., remaining within the window of potential “mainstream” solutions.)
collaborativity – degree to which multiple people are involved, not merely the work of a singular person

EXTRINSIC:

popularity ($$$) – degree of usage, market share, presence
endorsement ($$) – affirmation and support of text by reputable influencers
production ($) – degree of editorial control leading to consistent and accurate forms of language (e.g., correct spelling, no missing words, etc.)
presentation ($) – visual appeal and “quality” of production (e.g., the world's best Bible translation will be less trusted if published on plain paper using Comic Sans or Papyrus than in any other font as a real book)
branding ($$) – presence of a unique, recognizable identifier (e.g., a trademark, publisher imprint, etc.)

TIME:

persistence – duration of consistent availability of content (i.e., frequent exposure increases familiarity which tends to increase trust)

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