Logic For Dummies, 2nd Edition

Chapter 14

Syntactical Maneuvers and Semantic Considerations

IN THIS CHAPTER

Knowing the difference between syntax and semantics

Discovering well-formed formulas

Seeing the symbolic connection between Boolean algebra and SL

George Carlin once remarked that you never hear people say, “Hand me that piano.” This statement is funny because, on the grammatical level, it’s a perfectly normal sentence and, on the meaning level, it’s completely absurd. This chapter is all about these two levels:

• Syntax, which is the level of grammar, is where Carlin’s sentence masquerades as normal. After all, “Hand me that piano.” is a grammatical sentence, from the capital letter at the beginning to the period at the end. Syntax is all about the form, or internal structure, of language and the rules that make language possible.
• Semantics, which is the level of meaning, is where Carlin’s sentence reveals itself to be ridiculous. In other words, you can hand someone a pen, a wallet, or even a skunk, but you just can’t hand a person a piano. Semantics is all about the functionality, or practical external usage, of language. In this chapter, it’s about the meaning that makes language worthwhile.

Whether ...