The idea that chemistry, as an academic discipline, (and one with its own system of symbolic representations), has its own language
"The reader is invited to see chemistry students as similar to learners working in a second language, where they are expected to be both learning the language and using the language to understand substantive material simultaneously. This is considered more than a metaphor…" (Taber, 2009, p.78)
"Before they will be given credit for using the language in formal assessments, students must learn the allowed symbols and what they represent; and understand the grammar of the representational language;
and know enough chemistry to be able to compose 'true' statements in the language, to represent actual or feasible reactions." (Taber, 2009, p. 86)
"The symbolic language of chemistry is an intellectual achievement of great power: but like all such systems it is only of value to us once we are fully initiated so it can become a facilitator of quick and effective communication, rather than being an additional barrier to comprehension and understanding." (Taber, 2009, p.103)
