No, it's not a typo. It was coined many years ago. It's not well known because it relates to an objective of reading.
Syn is a prefix meaning, with together, or alike.
Synoptic is
1. Of or constituting a synopsis; presenting a summary of the principal parts or a general view of the whole.
2. Taking the same point of view.
(source; Dictionary.com)
It is, collecting together all sources that agree.
Syntopic is drawing out the differnt arguments of the same topic.
In syntopic reading we're not looking agreement, we're looking for what each author thinks and expecially differences of option so that we can draw out our own conclusions from our thinking.
Alex
[This message has been edited by Alex K. Viefhaus (edited April 07, 2005).]
