leddord

Leddord is a term used in Scandinavian linguistics to refer to function words, also described as closed-class words. These are words that carry little lexical meaning on their own but perform essential grammatical functions, connecting content words and signaling relations between them. Leddord contrast with innholdswort (content words) such as nouns, main verbs, adjectives, and most adverbs, which carry the core semantic content of a sentence.

The term leddord combines ledd (link or limb) and ord (word), reflecting their role in linking elements within clause structure and indicating grammatical relationships rather than concrete meanings. The set of leddord is typically considered closed, meaning that new members are rarely added, and most languages do not readily borrow new function words.

Common subcategories of leddord include pronouns, determiners and articles, prepositions, conjunctions, auxiliary and modal verbs, and particles. Examples in Norwegian and related languages include og (and), i (in), den (this/that), som (which/that), kan (can), ikke (not), and ja (yes). While some items may shift between categories depending on theoretical framework, they are generally treated as leddord due to their grammatical rather than lexical function.

In linguistic analysis, leddord are important for syntax, morphology, and discourse structure, helping to mark tense, aspect, negation, coordination, reference, and relationships among clause elements. Cross-linguistically, many languages possess a similar class of function words that plays a central role in sentence construction and readability.