Conjunct
Encyclopedia
In linguistics
Linguistics
Linguistics is the scientific study of human language. Linguistics can be broadly broken into three categories or subfields of study: language form, language meaning, and language in context....

, the term conjunct has three distinct uses:
  • A conjunct is an adjunct
    Adjunct
    Adjunct may refer to:* Adjunct , words used as modifiers* Adjunct professor, a professor who does not hold a permanent position at a particular academic institution* Adjuncts, sources of sugar used in brewing...

     that adds information to the sentence
    Sentence (linguistics)
    In the field of linguistics, a sentence is an expression in natural language, and often defined to indicate a grammatical unit consisting of one or more words that generally bear minimal syntactic relation to the words that precede or follow it...

     that is not considered part of the proposition
    Proposition
    In logic and philosophy, the term proposition refers to either the "content" or "meaning" of a meaningful declarative sentence or the pattern of symbols, marks, or sounds that make up a meaningful declarative sentence...

    al content (or at least not essential) but which connects the sentence with previous parts of the discourse
    Discourse
    Discourse generally refers to "written or spoken communication". The following are three more specific definitions:...

    . Rare though this may be, conjuncts may also connect to the following parts of the discourse.
    • It was raining. Therefore, we didn’t go swimming.
    • It was sunny. However, we stayed inside.
    • You are such a dork. Still, I love you from the bottom of my heart.

  • A coordination
    Coordination (linguistics)
    In linguistics, a coordination is a complex syntactic structure that links together two or more elements, known as conjuncts or conjoins. Coordinators are typically: "and" and "or"...

     structure connects two words, phrases or clauses together, usually with the help of a coordinating conjunction
    Grammatical conjunction
    In grammar, a conjunction is a part of speech that connects two words, sentences, phrases or clauses together. A discourse connective is a conjunction joining sentences. This definition may overlap with that of other parts of speech, so what constitutes a "conjunction" must be defined for each...

    :
    • [Gretchen and her daughter] bought [motor oil, spark plugs, and dynamite].
    • Take two of these and call me in the morning.

  • A verb form, for example the conjunct verb endings
    Dependent and independent verb forms
    In the Goidelic languages, dependent and independent verb forms are distinct verb forms; each tense of each verb exists in both forms. Verbs are often preceded by a particle which marks negation, or a question, or has some other force. The dependent verb forms are used after a particle, while...

     of Old Irish or the conjunct mood (sometimes called the subjunctive mood
    Subjunctive mood
    In grammar, the subjunctive mood is a verb mood typically used in subordinate clauses to express various states of irreality such as wish, emotion, possibility, judgment, opinion, necessity, or action that has not yet occurred....

    ) of the Algonquian languages
    Algonquian languages
    The Algonquian languages also Algonkian) are a subfamily of Native American languages which includes most of the languages in the Algic language family. The name of the Algonquian language family is distinguished from the orthographically similar Algonquin dialect of the Ojibwe language, which is a...

    .


This article discusses the first kind of conjunct.

The semantic functions of conjuncts

English conjuncts often have the following functions
  • Listing (indicating that what follows is a list of propositions)
To begin with, I have to tell you that I'm most displeased with your performance in the show. I also think you did a bad job painting the house. You're a lousy cook. You smell. Your hat is ... etc.

  • Enumerative (indicating items on a list of propositions)
First, we have to buy bread. Second, we need to take the car to the garage. Third, we have to call your dentist and make an appointment.

  • Additive (indicating that the content of the sentence is in addition to the preceding one)
He has no money. In addition, he has no means of getting any.

  • Summative (summing up, or concluding, on the preceding sentence(s))
A is B. A is C. To sum up, A is several things.

  • Appositive (rephrasing the preceding sentence)
The French love music. In other words, music is appreciated in France.

  • Resultative/inferential (indicating that the content of the sentence is a result of the events expressed in the preceding sentence)
Miss Gold lost her job. She, therefore, had no money.

  • Antithetic (indicating that the content of the sentence is in contrast to the content of the preceding sentence)
It is said that water flows up hill. On the contrary, it flows downhill

  • Concessive (indicating that the content of the sentence "exists" despite the content in the preceding sentence)
It is very cold. I went for my morning walk, however.

  • Temporal (indicating temporal relation between the content of the sentence and the preceding sentence)
I had lunch. Meanwhile, my wife had her hair cut.
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