Syntax

When we speak of syntax, we are talking about how we
(quite literally) put together word fragments, words, clauses, and
phrases to form meaningful concepts, sentences, and paragraphs.

Definition of Syntax

1. Syntax in Human Expression
1.1 Root Word 'Syn'
1.2 Computer Languages
1.3 Musical Notation
2. Definition
3. See Also
4. Credits

1. Syntax in Human Expression

Human languages have rules (or expected behavior) for putting words together. Nouns, verbs, articles, adjectives, and adverbs must be joined together in the proper sequence, or the objects of communication will fail.

1.1 Root Word 'Syn'

Syn (the root) is taken from the Greek word meaning 'with' or 'together'.

1.1.1 Related to, or derived from 'syn'

Other words derived from the root word 'syn' and therefore related to 'syntax'.

Synagogue - 1.) A congregation or assembly of the Jews, meeting (coming together) for worship. 2.) The court of the seventy elders among the Jews, called the great synagogue.
Synchronize - To agree in time, to be simultaneous, coming together at the same time.
Syncopate - In music, to connect the last note of a bar with the first of the following bar.
Synonym - A name, noun or other word having the same signification as another, is its synonym. Two words containing the same idea are synonyms.
Synopsis - A general view, or a collection of things or parts, so arranged as to exhibit the whole or the principal parts in a general view.
Synoptic - Affording a general view of the whole, or the principal parts of a thing; as a synoptic table.
Synthesis - [to put (or set) together] 1) Composition, or the putting of two or more things together (as in compound medicines). 2) In logic, composition, or that process of reasoning in which we advance by a regular chain from principles before established or assumed (already proven), till we arrive at the conclusion.

1.2 Computer Languages

Computer languages also have rules for putting together commands, functions, white-space and logic to make a meaningful concept, explain a process, or describe an object. For instance, here is an article on Java syntax or grammar.

1.3 Musical Notation

Musical notation also follows some rules of construction, for putting musical notes, and musical phrases together to form melodies and rhythms.

2. Definition

Syntax is derived from two Greek words meaning 'together' and 'to put' ('to put together'). As we said in the beginning of this article: When we speak of syntax, we are talking about how we (quite literally) put together word fragments, words and phrases to form meaningful concepts, sentences, and paragraphs.

Noah Websters 1828 dictionary says: 1) In grammar, the construction of sentences; the due arrangment of words, according to established usage. Syntax includes concord and regimen, or the agreement and government of words. Words in every language, have certain connections and relations, as verbs and adjectives with nouns, which relations must be observed in the formation of sentences. A gross violation of the rules of syntax is a solecism. 2) Connected system or order; union of things.

3. See Also

David Inman's article on Syntax, discusses various computer methods and issues with computers 'understanding' human language. Discusses syntax, grammar, lexicons, semantics, pragmatics, parsing strategies and more.

Wikipedia articles on Syntax and Linguistics.

Grammar - Instant Expert Guide to Grammar

Mr. Pixel from merd.net has created a synoptic syntax study guide - computer language comparison charts, which he simply calls syntax across languages. This is an excellent resource!

4. Credits

Several definitions are provided by Noah Webster's 1828 Dictionary.

	Instant eXpert Guides