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The notion of “type”
A type may be defined as a cluster of traits or attributes which is shared by a number of elements. The assemblage of conical cups we have used as an example for different types of wholeness constitutes a type.
Back to top: The concept
Morphology and syntax
Morphology refers to an inner-referential cluster of formal traits.
Syntax refers to an extra-referential cluster of traits, not necessarily defined in formal terms.
In linguistics, the term “syntax” refers to how discrete elements (typically, words) interact with each other accordging to well defined rules. For example, in English a subject occurs before a verb in a positive sentence (“I may do this”) and after a verb in interrogative sentence (“May I do this?”). I use it here in a derivative sense to indicate how different data are integrated with a given element to give it a fuller sense. For example, the evidence from scenes depicted on seals tells us about the use of conical cups (see above).
Back to top: The concept