Contribution in an anthology

Appeared in: Science Communication

Editor list: Leßmöllmann, Annette; Dascal, Marcelo; Gloning, Thomas

Publication year: 2020

Pages: 335-355

ISBN: 978-3-11-025551-5

eISBN: 978-3-11-025552-2

DOI Link: https://doi.org/10.1515/9783110255522-016

Title of series: Handbooks of communication science

Number in series: 17

Abstract: 

In different branches of scientific communication forms of symbolic notation play an important role, e. g. in mathematics, symbolic logic, chemistry, physics, linguistics, astronomy, etc. as well as in some of their historical predecessors like alchemy. This chapter provides an overview of some of the major forms, communicative practices and epistemic functions of systems of symbolic notation, their elements and their uses. The chapter also provides an outlook on aspects of the intertwining of elements of symbolic notation with natural language texts, forms of visualization and diagrammatic devices. In addition, it is shown how the idea of symbolic notation relates to other notions like scientific rigor, formalization, computability and the idea of an ideal language. Further perspectives include desiderata like the use of scientific symbolism in popular science contributions.

Harvard Citation style: Gloning, T. (2020) Symbolic notation in scientific communication: a panorama, in Leßmöllmann, A., Dascal, M. and Gloning, T. (eds.) Science Communication. Boston: De Gruyter Mouton, pp. 335-355. https://doi.org/10.1515/9783110255522-016

APA Citation style: Gloning, T. (2020). Symbolic notation in scientific communication: a panorama. In Leßmöllmann, A., Dascal, M., & Gloning, T. (Eds.), Science Communication (pp. 335-355). De Gruyter Mouton. https://doi.org/10.1515/9783110255522-016