Scholars as authorities: Citation and referencing strategies in classical Arabic linguistic scholarship

This paper investigates the multifaceted functions of citation and referencing within classical Arabic language studies, moving beyond the view of citation as a tool for attribution and discussing it as a mechanism for structuring linguistic reasoning. The study categorizes referencing functions into three primary dimensions: epistemic, where citation grounds reasoning with scholarly legitimacy; social/scholarly, where references signal affiliation or perform strategic distancing; and dialogical, where citation facilitates an intertextual exchange, also across generations. Attention is paid to referencing strategies, such as the ʾisnād-like reporting structures, theoretical anchoring through named authorities, and the strategic use of anonymous or generalized attribution. The study also traces how early practices evolve into more overtly dialogical forms in later genres of commentary and supercommentary. This contribution ultimately outlines how citation and referencing practices operate as a methodological device that organizes argumentation, regulates access to linguistic data, and integrates individual analyses into a dynamic intellectual framework.