A Course in Islamic Theoretical Linguistics (Paperback) (ISBN-13: 9798258740090)

Human beings use language every second of their lives. They speak in language, speak about language, and think through and within language. Yet what is language? How did it begin? Who first used it? What conditions made its emergence possible? These enduring questions continue to challenge scholars around the world.

This book does not seek to provide definitive answers to these questions so much as to situate the thoughts and ideas advanced by three major Shia Muslim Imams within the broader linguistic landscape. Drawing on contemporary linguistic theory, it explores the views of Imam Ali bin Abi Talib, Imam Jaafar as-Sadiq, and Imam Ali ar-Ridha on the nature and functions of language.

I believe these ideas and perspectives have often been neglected, whether intentionally or unintentionally, for a variety of reasons, including political and ideological ones. Through this work, I hope to make a meaningful contribution to linguistic scholarship by introducing Shia traditions on language to a wider audience and by placing them in conversation with contemporary theoretical frameworks. My aim is to deepen our understanding of linguistic universals, the functions of language, and its origins, while also creating space for the Shia perspective within the global discourse on language.