Samstæð

Samstæð is an Icelandic linguistic term used to describe constructions in which two or more units of equal syntactic status are joined. The term covers samstæðar setningar (coordinated sentences) and samstæð orð eða orðasambönd (coordinated words or phrases). The common feature is that the units share the same syntactic role and are linked by coordinating devices rather than by subordination.

In samstæð setningar, the clauses are independent and can each stand as a sentence, yet they are connected to form a larger sentence. They are typically joined by coordinating conjunctions or by punctuation. Example: Húsið stendur á lóðinni, og garðurinn er fallegur.

This concept is contrasted with undirsetningar (subordinate clauses), where one clause depends on another for its full meaning. For example: Ég veit að hann kom. Here the clause að hann kom cannot stand alone as a complete sentence in Icelandic.

Beyond clauses, samstæð structures can also describe coordination of words or phrases within a clause, such as coordinated adjectives or nouns that share a common head. In linguistic description and language teaching, samstæð provides a basis for analyzing rhythm, punctuation, and the linking of equal syntactic units. The term is used in Icelandic grammar and is also relevant to discussions of coordination in related Nordic languages.