SOME ASPECTS OF THE LEARNING OF THE LANGUAGE OF MATHEMATICS

Abstract

To speak of the "language" of mathematics is to use the word "language" in a special sense. The French, in speaking of language in the sense of "tongue" use the word langue, and for the other use, more appropriate here, they use the word langage. There is a language of mathematics in this latter sense, with a special vocabulary and special symbols. Also, one might say that the language of mathematicians is distinguishable from the language of mathematics. This article attempts to deal with some of the peculiar properties of the language of mathematics, and to offer to both students and teachers of mathematics some suggestions for acquiring more insight into mathematics by an examination of the language of mathematics.