Rosen questioned the author's focus on language and Arab unity, saying it "never quite connects all the dots". He was critical of the little attention given to the role of trade and Islamic Law, noting their importance to understand the full picture. Rosen characterized the author's interest in language as being closer to that of a lexicographer rather than a sociolinguist, citing his frequent use of peculiar words compared to the rarity of showing the "actual use of Arabic in social and political life".