There is the problem of intent. There is often no knowledge of the original, the beginning, and the source. Writing has a long history of questionable intent.
Research based on unknown writing is at the best of times experimental.
If we look at it from a metaphysical perspective we could say that we are talking about sound. The fiat of the word or the movement into creation. In other words we don t have a clue. On-line research can have this same problem. Obviously we do it on-line.