Full Idea
A logic is a collection of closely related artificial languages, and its older meaning is the study of the rules of sound argument. The languages can be used as a framework for studying rules of argument.
Gist of Idea
Logic is the study of sound argument, or of certain artificial languages (or applying the latter to the former)
Source
Wilfrid Hodges (First-Order Logic [2001], 1.1)
Book Reference
'Blackwell Guide to Philosophical Logic', ed/tr. Goble,Lou [Blackwell 2001], p.9
A Reaction
[Hodges then says he will stick to the languages] The suspicion is that one might confine the subject to the artificial languages simply because it is easier, and avoids the tricky philosophical questions. That approximates to computer programming.
Related Idea
Idea 13232 Logic studies arguments, not formal languages; this involves interpretations [Beall/Restall]