coniunctie

Coniunctie is a term used in linguistics and logic to describe a device that links elements in a sentence or proposition. In grammar, a coniunctie connects words, phrases, or clauses. There are two main types: coordinating conjunctions, which join elements of equal importance (for example en, of, maar, want, dus in Dutch), and subordinating conjunctions, which introduce dependent clauses (such as omdat, dat, als, wanneer, terwijl, hoewel, zodat). There are also correlative conjunctions that pair with each other, like zowel… als… or niet alleen… maar ook.

In addition to the functional roles in language, coniunctie covers the logical conjunction, a binary operator that expresses conjunction, often read as "and." In logic, A ∧ B is true if and only if both A and B are true. The operator is commutative and associative, and it underpins many formal systems in mathematics, philosophy, and computer science. In programming and computation, the same concept appears under various notations depending on the language (for example, AND, &&, ∧, or &), and it is used to combine boolean expressions or to control conditional execution.

Punctuation and syntax influence how coniunctie is written and read. In many languages, a comma may separate two independent clauses joined by a coordinating conjunction when the second clause is lengthy or complex; in other cases the comma is omitted. Subordinating conjunctions typically require a comma to set off the dependent clause from the main clause.

Etymology traces the term to Latin coniunctio, meaning “joining.” See also conjunction, correlative conjunction, and logical conjunction.