"Over the ages, Arabic scholars have been committed to understanding the mechanics of language. "It became a scientific pursuit," said Key. And, as he pointed out, the considerable work by these theorists was a "reflection of society's obsession with language."

Beginning as early as the eighth century, Arabic educators and intellectual society in general emphasized the importance of the written and spoken word. "The philosophy of language has been a fundamental part of the Arabic curriculum for nearly a millennium," Key said."