Linguistic Roots in Saeed Al-Sreihi’s Cultural Discourse Criticism

Abstract

This study examines the role of linguistic roots in Saeed Al-Sreihi’s practice of cultural discourse criticism, arguing that they function as a central critical mechanism rather than a purely explanatory linguistic device. Situated within the framework of the critique of criticism, the research analyzes Al-Sreihi’s critical discourse by tracing how he employs linguistic roots to interpret cultural and social phenomena and to explain the formation and production of discourse. The study demonstrates that Al-Sreihi’s repeated return to linguistic roots reflects a deliberate methodological choice that informs his analytical vision. Through this approach, linguistic roots become a multifunctional tool used to generate meaning, reveal underlying cultural patterns, articulate discourse production, and construct a philosophical understanding of language. The analysis also shows that this methodological practice extends beyond analytical procedures to constitute a critical stance, particularly when linguistic roots are foregrounded in the titles of some of Al-Sreihi’s works. The study concludes that the semantic potential of linguistic roots plays a decisive role in Al-Sreihi’s cultural criticism, enabling him to dismantle implicit structures within discourse and to expose the cultural systems embedded in language. This confirms the effectiveness of linguistic roots as a critical instrument in contemporary Arab cultural criticism.