Conjunct

Conjunct
Not to be confused with Conjunct (music).

In linguistics, the term conjunct has three distinct uses:

  • A conjunct is an adjunct that adds information to the sentence that is not considered part of the propositional content (or at least not essential) but which connects the sentence with previous parts of the discourse. 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 structure connects two words, phrases or clauses together, usually with the help of a coordinating conjunction:
    • [Gretchen and her daughter] bought [motor oil, spark plugs, and dynamite].
    • Take two of these and call me in the morning.

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.

See also


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Look at other dictionaries:

  • conjunct — CONJÚNCT, Ă, conjuncţi, te, adj. (În sintagma) Forme conjuncte = formele scurte ale prezentului indicativ pers. 1 sg. ( s) şi pers. 3 sg. şi pl. ( i, s) al verbului a fi şi formele neaccentuate ale pronumelui personal la dativ şi acuzativ sg. şi… …   Dicționar Român

  • Conjunct — Con*junct , a. [L. conjunctus, p. p. See {Conjoin}.] 1. United; conjoined; concurrent. [Archaic] [1913 Webster] 2. (Her.) Same as {Conjoined}. [1913 Webster] …   The Collaborative International Dictionary of English

  • conjunct — I adjective allied, amalgamated, associated, binding, coadunate, coalescent, coherent, cohesive, combined, complex, composite, concerted, conjoint, connected, consensual, consolidated, contiguous, cooperative, correlative, incorporated,… …   Law dictionary

  • conjunct — mid 15c., from L. conjunctus, pp. of conjugare (see CONJUGAL (Cf. conjugal)). A doublet of CONJOINT (Cf. conjoint) …   Etymology dictionary

  • conjunct — [kən juŋkt′; ] also, and for n.always [, kän′juŋkt΄] adj. [ML < L conjunctus, pp. of conjungere: see CONJOIN] 1. joined together; joint; associated 2. Music pertaining to progression by successive degrees of a scale n. a person or thing joined …   English World dictionary

  • conjunct — conjunctly, adv. adj. /keuhn jungkt , kon jungkt/; n. /kon jungkt/, adj. 1. bound in close association; conjoined; combined; united: conjunct ideas; conjunct influences. 2. formed by conjunction. 3. Gram. a. occurring only in combination with an… …   Universalium

  • conjunct — Conjoint Con*joint , a. [F. conjoint, p. p. of conjoindre. See {Conjoin}, and cf. {Conjunct}.] United; connected; associated. Influence conjoint. Glover. [1913 Webster] {Conjoint degrees} (Mus.), two notes which follow each other immediately in… …   The Collaborative International Dictionary of English

  • conjunct — con•junct adj. [[t]kənˈdʒʌŋkt, ˈkɒn dʒʌŋkt[/t]] n. [[t]ˈkɒn dʒʌŋkt[/t]] adj. 1) bound in close association; conjoined; united: conjunct influences[/ex] 2) formed by conjunction 3) mad progressing melodically by intervals of a second: the conjunct …   From formal English to slang

  • conjunct — 1. noun a) Either term of a conjunction b) An adjunct that supplements a sentence with information, not considered to be an essential part of the propositional content, that connects the sentence with previous parts of the discourse, as therefore …   Wiktionary

  • conjunct tetrachords — noun plural : two adjacent tetrachords in which the highest note of one is the same as the lowest note of the other * * * conjunct tetrachords plural noun (Gr music) Tetrachords in which the highest note of the lower is the lowest note of the… …   Useful english dictionary

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