syntax

Meaning: In the study of language, syntax is the rule system that governs word order and sentence structure. Along with phonology (sound patterns), morphology (word parts), semantics (meaning) and pragmatics (use in social context), it is one of the components of language. Syntax lets a speaker combine a limited vocabulary into a very large number of sentences, which is why language is called generative. "The dog bit the man" and "The man bit the dog" use the same words, but word order gives them different meanings.

On the MCAT: Passages on language development or the brain may ask you to tell syntax apart from semantics. A classic example is "Colorless green ideas sleep furiously," which follows English grammar but makes no sense. Another example is a young child's telegraphic speech ("Want cookie"), which shows early syntactic ordering. Questions may also link syntax to brain areas: Broca's area is tied to speech production and grammatical structure, while Wernicke's area is tied to comprehension. Nativist accounts (Chomsky's universal grammar and language acquisition device) hold that humans are predisposed to acquire syntax, while learning accounts (Skinner) stress reinforcement and imitation.

Common confusion: Syntax is not meaning. Semantics concerns what words and sentences mean, while syntax concerns only how they are arranged. A grammatical sentence can be nonsense, and a sentence with grammar errors can still be understood.