Syntax tends to get people unusually upset in the programming world. Heck, virtually any introductory talk on Erlang (Haskell, Clojure, whatever) invariably contains a self-deprecatory quote about the syntax. The thing people forget is that this isn't new. Syntax has been upsetting hominids since the first australopithecus said "Urghk" instead of "Oook" - getting thumped for its pains - and has continued to the present day (Look up "French is better than" on The Googles) In this talk, I will explore the similarities between spoken and programming languages, with particular emphasis on the process of learning them, as well as the almost reflexive hatred of this process in most cultures. You'll learn to appreciate the role of syntax in languages, how it can help - or hinder! - your understanding of the semantics, and most importantly, how to appreciate syntax as an element of the language that is valuable in its own right.

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Syntax – Why so Caremad?
Syntax Matters
Mahesh Paolini-Subramanya
(@dieswaytoofast)
V.P. R&D, Ubiquiti Networks

2. Syntax – Why so Caremad?
Syntax Doesn’t
Matter
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3. Syntax – Why so Caremad?
Syntax Doesn’t
Matter
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Except when it does

4. Syntax – Why so Caremad?
Syntax Doesn’t
Matter
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Except when it does
But that isn’t the point

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Syntax – Why so Caremad?
(huli)

6. lemon
• (huli)

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Syntax – Why so Caremad?
(huli)

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Syntax – Why so Caremad?
vs
(huli vs huli)

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Syntax – Why so Caremad?
vs
(huli vs huli)

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Syntax – Why so Caremad?
(khara)

12. chili
•(
)

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Syntax – Why so Caremad?
(sankocha)

14. Syntax – Why so Caremad?
Monad
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Syntax – Why so Caremad?
GOTO

16. Syntax – Why so Caremad?
It’s the Language stupid!
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Syntax – Why so Caremad?
Classifications

19. Syntax – Why so Caremad?
Chomsky-Schützenberger
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Syntax – Why so Caremad?
Structures

29. Syntax – Why so Caremad?
Multilingual People
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36. Syntax – Why so Caremad?
Unscientific Studies Rock!
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37. Syntax – Why so Caremad?
Unscientific Studies Rock!
•
60% correlation between polyglots
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Source: Wholly unscientific research by me.

38. Syntax – Why so Caremad?
Unscientific Studies Rock!
•
60% correlation between polyglots
•
80% correlation between monolinguals
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Source: Wholly unscientific research by me.

39. Syntax – Why so Caremad?
Language Differences
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40. Syntax – Why so Caremad?
vs
andare
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Syntax – Why so Caremad?
http://langexplr.blogspot.co.uk/2011/03/quick-look-at-apl.html

42. Syntax – Why so Caremad?
aller
vs
andare
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43. Syntax – Why so Caremad?
If i Mod 2 = 0 Then
MsgBox(“Even”)
Else
MsgBox(“Odd”)
End If
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44. Syntax – Why so Caremad?
=IF(MOD(A1,2)=0,1,2)
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45. Syntax – Why so Caremad?
{for i in l
when i % 2 = 0
-> i}
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46. Syntax – Why so Caremad?
[I || I <- L,
(I rem 2) == 0].
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Syntax – Why so Caremad?
Error Correction

48. Syntax – Why so Caremad?
It deson’t mttaer in waht
oredr the ltteers in a wrod
aepapr, the olny ipromatnt
tihng is taht the frist and lsat
ltteer are in the rghit pcale.
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From http://www.livescience.com/18392-reading-jumbled-words.html

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Syntax – Why so Caremad?
Hello Compiler!

50. Syntax – Why so Caremad?
Errors lead to Evolution
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52. Syntax – Why so Caremad?
All Languages Evolve
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55. Syntax – Why so Caremad?
Syntax Matters
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56. Syntax – Why so Caremad?
Syntax Doesn’t
Matter
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57. Syntax – Why so Caremad?
It’s a Language stupid!
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58. Syntax – Why so Caremad?
Two parties to every conversation
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63. Syntax – Why so Caremad?
Right tool for the job!
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65. Syntax – Why so Caremad?
What is the
Job?
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66. Syntax – Why so Caremad?
Syntax
•
Who are you talking to?
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67. Syntax – Why so Caremad?
Syntax
•
Who are you talking to?
•
How necessary is it?
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68. Syntax – Why so Caremad?
Syntax
•
Who are you talking to?
•
How necessary is it?
•
How quickly do you need it?
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69. Syntax – Why so Caremad?
Syntax Doesn’t
Matter
This is SO not the point
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70. Syntax – Why so Caremad?
Syntax Isn’t RIGHT
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71. Syntax – Why so Caremad?
Syntax Isn’t
WRONG
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72. Syntax – Why so Caremad?
Syntax Just IS
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74. Syntax – Why so Caremad?
Syntax Just Is
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Mahesh Paolini-Subramanya
(@dieswaytoofast)
V.P. R&D, Ubiquiti Networks