semtengiorð

Se mtengiorð is a term used in Icelandic grammar to describe a class of connective elements that link parts of a sentence to express semantic relations. The name is formed from sem, meaning that/which, and tengiorð, meaning connectives or conjunctions. The concept covers words and word forms that introduce dependent clauses or connect a main clause to a relative or embedded clause.

In practice, semtengiorð most commonly include the relative element sem, which introduces relative clauses such as in the sentence “maðurinn sem kom yesterday” meaning “the man who came yesterday.” They can also function as subordinators that introduce clauses explaining or specifying information, as in “ég vissi að hann kæmi,” meaning “I knew that he would come.” The exact use and form of semtengiorð can vary with dialect, register, and syntactic context, and some instances may overlap with other types of conjunctions or pronouns.

Se mtengiorð are typically distinguished from coordinating conjunctions, which link independent clauses, by their role in modifying or specifying the information in relation to an antecedent or a subordinate clause. They enable concise sentence construction and the embedding of information, description, or qualification within a single sentence.

From a historical perspective, semtengiorð have been described in Icelandic grammars as a cohesive category because they share the function of connecting clauses to express semantic relations, even though their exact syntactic realizations differ. In contemporary usage, semtengiorð remain a standard topic in discussions of Icelandic syntax and sentence structure.

See also: Icelandic grammar, relative clauses, conjunctions, sem.