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. 26 May. 2012 <http://www.encyclopedia.com>.

TOM McARTHUR. "SYNTAX." Concise Oxford Companion to the English Language. 1998. Encyclopedia.com. (May 26, 2012). http://www.encyclopedia.com/doc/1O29-SYNTAX.html

TOM McARTHUR. "SYNTAX." Concise Oxford Companion to the English Language. 1998. Retrieved May 26, 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. 26 May. 2012 <http://www.encyclopedia.com>.

JOHN DAINTITH. "syntax." A Dictionary of Computing. 2004. Encyclopedia.com. (May 26, 2012). http://www.encyclopedia.com/doc/1O11-syntax.html

JOHN DAINTITH. "syntax." A Dictionary of Computing. 2004. Retrieved May 26, 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. 26 May. 2012 <http://www.encyclopedia.com>.

"syntax." The Oxford Pocket Dictionary of Current English. 2009. Encyclopedia.com. (May 26, 2012). http://www.encyclopedia.com/doc/1O999-syntax.html

"syntax." The Oxford Pocket Dictionary of Current English. 2009. Retrieved May 26, 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. 26 May. 2012 <http://www.encyclopedia.com>.

T. F. HOAD. "syntax." The Concise Oxford Dictionary of English Etymology. 1996. Encyclopedia.com. (May 26, 2012). http://www.encyclopedia.com/doc/1O27-syntax.html

T. F. HOAD. "syntax." The Concise Oxford Dictionary of English Etymology. 1996. Retrieved May 26, 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. 26 May. 2012 <http://www.encyclopedia.com>.

"syntax." World Encyclopedia. 2005. Encyclopedia.com. (May 26, 2012). http://www.encyclopedia.com/doc/1O142-syntax.html

"syntax." World Encyclopedia. 2005. Retrieved May 26, 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. 26 May. 2012 <http://www.encyclopedia.com>.

ELIZABETH KNOWLES. "syntax." The Oxford Dictionary of Phrase and Fable. 2006. Encyclopedia.com. (May 26, 2012). http://www.encyclopedia.com/doc/1O214-syntax.html

ELIZABETH KNOWLES. "syntax." The Oxford Dictionary of Phrase and Fable. 2006. Retrieved May 26, 2012 from Encyclopedia.com: 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. 26 May. 2012 <http://www.encyclopedia.com>.

"Syntax." Dictionary of Collective Nouns and Group Terms. 1985. Encyclopedia.com. (May 26, 2012). 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.. 2011. Encyclopedia.com. 26 May. 2012 <http://www.encyclopedia.com>.

"syntax." The Columbia Encyclopedia, 6th ed.. 2011. Encyclopedia.com. (May 26, 2012). http://www.encyclopedia.com/doc/1E1-X-syntax.html

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syntax

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"syntax." Oxford Dictionary of Rhymes. 2007. Encyclopedia.com. 26 May. 2012 <http://www.encyclopedia.com>.

"syntax." Oxford Dictionary of Rhymes. 2007. Encyclopedia.com. (May 26, 2012). http://www.encyclopedia.com/doc/1O233-syntax.html

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