sammenhæng

Sammenhæng is a Danish noun that denotes cohesion, coherence, or connection. It is used to describe the degree to which elements form a unified whole, whether in a physical system, a textual argument, a social group, or a process. The term can refer to both structural ties and conceptual unity.

In linguistics and rhetoric, sammenhæng refers to how parts of a text relate to one another. It covers cohesion—grammatical and lexical links such as pronouns, conjunctions, repetition, and reference—and coherence, the overall sense and logical flow that makes a text intelligible.

In science and engineering, sammenhæng often appears in expressions for the forces that bind substances together or the integration of components into a functioning whole. The related term sammenhængskraft describes cohesive forces, while a system’s sammenhæng can describe its structural integrity or connectedness.

In social and political contexts, sammenhæng denotes social cohesion and the extent to which institutions, communities, and practices form a stable, mutually supporting whole. It is used when discussing policy aims, governance, and the resilience of societies.

In everyday Danish, the word is used in phrases describing textual coherence, structural integrity, or social unity. It is a versatile term that covers physical, textual, and social connectedness and the idea of a unified whole.