Syntax

SYNTAX

SYNTAX. A term in general use and in LINGUISTICS for the study of the ways in which words combine into such units as PHRASE, CLAUSE, and SENTENCE. The sequences that result from the combinations are referred to in linguistics as syntactic structures. The ways in which components of words are combined into words are studied in MORPHOLOGY, and syntax and morphology together are generally regarded as the major constituents of grammar, although in one of its uses, grammar is strictly synonymous with syntax and excludes morphology. In models of language description that are divided into levels of analysis or components, the syntactic level or component is contrasted with the phonological and semantic levels or components. Syntactic descriptions do not usually go beyond the level of the sentence, though they may deal with relationships between sentences such as are signalled by a pronoun (it, them) or a conjunct (therefore). See LEVEL OF LANGUAGE, LINGUISTIC TYPOLOGY.

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TOM McARTHUR. "SYNTAX." Concise Oxford Companion to the English Language. 1998. Encyclopedia.com. 11 Feb. 2012 <http://www.encyclopedia.com>.

TOM McARTHUR. "SYNTAX." Concise Oxford Companion to the English Language. 1998. Encyclopedia.com. (February 11, 2012). http://www.encyclopedia.com/doc/1O29-SYNTAX.html

TOM McARTHUR. "SYNTAX." Concise Oxford Companion to the English Language. 1998. Retrieved February 11, 2012 from Encyclopedia.com: http://www.encyclopedia.com/doc/1O29-SYNTAX.html

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syntax

syntax (syntax rules) The rules defining the legal sequences of symbolic elements in a language. The syntax rules define the form of the various constructs in the language, but say nothing about the meaning of these constructs. Examples of constructs are: expressions, procedures, and programs (in the case of programming languages) and terms, well-formed formulas, and sentences (in the case of logical languages). See also parsing, BNF, extended BNF.

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JOHN DAINTITH. "syntax." A Dictionary of Computing. 2004. Encyclopedia.com. 11 Feb. 2012 <http://www.encyclopedia.com>.

JOHN DAINTITH. "syntax." A Dictionary of Computing. 2004. Encyclopedia.com. (February 11, 2012). http://www.encyclopedia.com/doc/1O11-syntax.html

JOHN DAINTITH. "syntax." A Dictionary of Computing. 2004. Retrieved February 11, 2012 from Encyclopedia.com: http://www.encyclopedia.com/doc/1O11-syntax.html

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syntax

syn·tax / ˈsinˌtaks/ • n. the arrangement of words and phrases to create well-formed sentences in a language: the syntax of English. ∎  a set of rules for or an analysis of this: generative syntax. ∎  the branch of linguistics that deals with this.

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"syntax." The Oxford Pocket Dictionary of Current English. 2009. Encyclopedia.com. 11 Feb. 2012 <http://www.encyclopedia.com>.

"syntax." The Oxford Pocket Dictionary of Current English. 2009. Encyclopedia.com. (February 11, 2012). http://www.encyclopedia.com/doc/1O999-syntax.html

"syntax." The Oxford Pocket Dictionary of Current English. 2009. Retrieved February 11, 2012 from Encyclopedia.com: http://www.encyclopedia.com/doc/1O999-syntax.html

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syntax

syntax †orderly arrangement of parts; (gram.) arrangement of words in their appropriate forms and order. XVII. — F. syntaxe or late L. syntaxis (adopted in Eng. XVI) — Gr. súntaxis, f. suntássein, f. SYN- + tássein arrange.
So syntactic XIX, syntactical XVI.

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T. F. HOAD. "syntax." The Concise Oxford Dictionary of English Etymology. 1996. Encyclopedia.com. 11 Feb. 2012 <http://www.encyclopedia.com>.

T. F. HOAD. "syntax." The Concise Oxford Dictionary of English Etymology. 1996. Encyclopedia.com. (February 11, 2012). http://www.encyclopedia.com/doc/1O27-syntax.html

T. F. HOAD. "syntax." The Concise Oxford Dictionary of English Etymology. 1996. Retrieved February 11, 2012 from Encyclopedia.com: http://www.encyclopedia.com/doc/1O27-syntax.html

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syntax

syntax Branch of grammar that encompasses the body of rules governing the ways in which words are put together to form phrases, clauses and sentences in a language. Syntax also describes the structure of a sentence or of an utterance produced by a writer or speaker.

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"syntax." World Encyclopedia. 2005. Encyclopedia.com. 11 Feb. 2012 <http://www.encyclopedia.com>.

"syntax." World Encyclopedia. 2005. Encyclopedia.com. (February 11, 2012). http://www.encyclopedia.com/doc/1O142-syntax.html

"syntax." World Encyclopedia. 2005. Retrieved February 11, 2012 from Encyclopedia.com: http://www.encyclopedia.com/doc/1O142-syntax.html

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syntax

syntax the arrangement of words and phrases to create well-formed sentences in a language. Recorded from the late 16th century, the word comes via French or late Latin from Greek suntaxis, from sun- ‘together’ + tassein ‘arrange’.

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ELIZABETH KNOWLES. "syntax." The Oxford Dictionary of Phrase and Fable. 2006. Encyclopedia.com. 11 Feb. 2012 <http://www.encyclopedia.com>.

ELIZABETH KNOWLES. "syntax." The Oxford Dictionary of Phrase and Fable. 2006. Encyclopedia.com. (February 11, 2012). http://www.encyclopedia.com/doc/1O214-syntax.html

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Syntax

Syntax

a connected system or order; a union of things.

Examples : syntax of being, 1661; of phantasy or imagination, 1676.

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"Syntax." Dictionary of Collective Nouns and Group Terms. 1985. Encyclopedia.com. 11 Feb. 2012 <http://www.encyclopedia.com>.

"Syntax." Dictionary of Collective Nouns and Group Terms. 1985. Encyclopedia.com. (February 11, 2012). http://www.encyclopedia.com/doc/1G2-2505301539.html

"Syntax." Dictionary of Collective Nouns and Group Terms. 1985. Retrieved February 11, 2012 from Encyclopedia.com: http://www.encyclopedia.com/doc/1G2-2505301539.html

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syntax

syntax see grammar .

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"syntax." The Columbia Encyclopedia, 6th ed.. 2008. Encyclopedia.com. 11 Feb. 2012 <http://www.encyclopedia.com>.

"syntax." The Columbia Encyclopedia, 6th ed.. 2008. Encyclopedia.com. (February 11, 2012). http://www.encyclopedia.com/doc/1E1-X-syntax.html

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syntax

syntaxaxe (US ax), Backs, Bax, fax, flax, lax, max, pax, Sachs, sax, saxe, tax, wax •co-ax • addax • Fairfax • Ceefax •Halifax • Telefax • Filofax • banjax •Ajax •pickaxe (US pickax) • gravlax •gravadlax • poleaxe • toadflax •parallax •battleaxe (US battleax) •minimax • climax • Betamax • anthrax •hyrax •borax, storax, thorax •syntax • surtax • beeswax • earwax •Berks, Lourenço Marques, Marks, Marx, Parks, Sparks •annex, convex, ex, flex, hex, perplex, Rex, sex, specs, Tex, Tex-Mex, vex •ibex • index • codex • tubifex •spinifex • pontifex • Telex • triplex •simplex • multiplex •ilex, silex •complex • duplex • circumflex • Amex •annexe • Kleenex • apex • Tipp-Ex •haruspex • perspex • Pyrex •Durex, Lurex, murex •Middlesex • unisex • Semtex • latex •cortex, Gore-tex, vortex •vertex • Jacques •breeks, idée fixe, maxixe, Weeks

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"syntax." Oxford Dictionary of Rhymes. 2007. Encyclopedia.com. 11 Feb. 2012 <http://www.encyclopedia.com>.

"syntax." Oxford Dictionary of Rhymes. 2007. Encyclopedia.com. (February 11, 2012). http://www.encyclopedia.com/doc/1O233-syntax.html

"syntax." Oxford Dictionary of Rhymes. 2007. Retrieved February 11, 2012 from Encyclopedia.com: http://www.encyclopedia.com/doc/1O233-syntax.html

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