Koordinativ

Koordinativ is an adjective used to describe matters relating to coordination. In linguistic contexts it denotes coordination, i.e., the linking of elements of equal syntactic status by coordinating conjunctions. Koordinative structures connect units such as words, phrases, or clauses in a way that each part remains parallel to the others, forming a balanced, additive relationship with the rest of the sentence.

In grammar, coordinative constructions are contrasted with subordinative (subordinate) structures, where one element is syntactically dependent on another. Common coordinating units in German include und, oder, aber, denn, sowie and beziehungsweise. An example of a coordinativ use is “Der Mann und die Frau gehen,” where two noun phrases are joined by und to form a single, coordinated phrase. The term koordiniert or koordinativ can describe the relation between the joined elements and the overall structure.

Outside of linguistics, koordinativ also appears in education and sports sciences to describe motor skills and training aimed at improving coordination. Koordinative Fähigkeiten refer to abilities such as balance, spatial orientation, timing, and rhythm, which can be developed through targeted exercises and activities. In this sense, the term encompasses the integration of sensory input and motor output to perform coordinated movements smoothly.

Etymologically, koordinativ stems from Latin roots related to “coordinare,” meaning to arrange together. The term is used primarily in German-language linguistic and educational literature to discuss coordination phenomena, as well as in sports and rehabilitation contexts dealing with motor coordination.

See also Koordination; Koordinierende Konjunktionen; Subordination.