Introductory remarks (Intro special section "Sources and layers of knowledge in the Arabic linguistic tradition," forthcoming in Folia Orientalia 64)

Knowledge production within the Arabic linguistic tradition is defined by an intricate architecture of epistemological layers, wherein empirical observation, authority, and rational inquiry exist in continuous negotiation. Far from being a static repository of canonized rules, classical Arabic metalinguistic activities developed through a dynamic process in which each historical layer refined the structural parameters of the metalinguistic framework, balancing canonical authorities with the pragmatic imperatives of ongoing scholarly development. This multi-layered network of authority and structural stratification forms the analytical focus of this thematic section titled “Sources and layers of knowledge in the Arabic linguistic tradition,” which brings together four specialized studies, three of which (Termini and Olivieri; Olivieri; Sartori) originated as presentations within an identically titled panel convened by Simona Olivieri (Ca’ Foscari University of Venice) and Francesco Binaghi (Sorbonne Université). The panel was held at the Sixth Arabic Linguistics Forum (ALiF 2025), hosted by the University of Vienna on September 3–5, 2025. The fourth contribution (Dundua) was selected for inclusion due to its thematic alignment with the core inquiries of the section. Together, these contributions aim to map mechanisms of knowledge production in the Arabic linguistic tradition, examining the fluid space where primary data, secondary sources, and linguistic reasoning converged.