Natural languages and formal languages

a tenable dualism

Julius Moravcsik

pp. 225-239

in: Robert S. Cohen, Mark W. Wartofsky (eds), Language, logic and method, Berlin, Springer, 1983

Abstract

Grammar intrigues philosophers. In ways only dimly understood, it binds together meaning-bearing elements and thus makes the articulation of thoughts, messages, and information possible. Some parts of language represent some parts of reality. Why are these parts of language combined the way they are? What does syntax contribute to understanding? Logicians and philosophers think that they have the answers to these questions in the case of artificially contructed formal languages. For the semantic complexes of these languages have a molecular structure. Syntax allows one to build up the semantic complexes from the semantic simples. In this way, in a formal language syntax mirrors semantic chemistry. Alternatively, it is the plaster that builds semantic bricks into a wall.