Lausegrupps

Lausegrupps is a term used in linguistics to describe a cohesive grouping of clauses within a sentence. It is used in syntax and discourse analysis to capture how multiple clauses are packaged to convey meaning, emphasis, and rhythm.

A lausegrupp typically comprises a main clause plus one or more dependent or coordinated clauses that share a syntactic relation and are prosodically linked. The boundaries of a lausegrupp are determined by both syntactic structure and phonological contour rather than solely by punctuation.

Types of lausegrupps include coordinated groups that connect clauses with coordinating conjunctions, subordinated groups where clauses function as complements or modifiers, and nested groups that contain subgroups within a larger group. The same sentence may contain multiple lausegrupps at different hierarchical levels, reflecting varying degrees of integration and emphasis.

Functions and applications: Lausegrupps help linguists analyze sentence complexity, information structure, and discourse flow. In natural language processing, recognizing lausegrupps supports parsing, coreference resolution, and prosody modeling, contributing to more accurate interpretation of multi-clause sentences.

Example: The professor announced that the meeting was canceled and that the agenda would be revised. Here, the two subordinate clauses form a single lausegrupp anchored by the reporting verb. Another pattern, as in conditional and relative sequences like "If you finish the report, and if the client approves, we can proceed," illustrates how multiple clauses can be grouped within a larger unit.

See also: Clause, sentence, syntax, prosody, discourse analysis.