Functional grammar (FG) and functional discourse grammar (FDG) are
grammar models and theories motivated by
functional theories of grammar. These theories explain how
linguistic utterances are shaped, based on the goals and knowledge of natural language users. In doing so, it contrasts with Chomskyan
transformational grammar. Functional discourse grammar has been developed as a successor to functional grammar, attempting to be more psychologically and pragmatically adequate than functional grammar.[1][2]
The top-level unit of analysis in functional discourse grammar is the
discourse move, not the
sentence or the
clause. This is a principle that sets functional discourse grammar apart from many other
linguistic theories, including its predecessor functional grammar.
History
Functional grammar (FG) is a model of
grammar motivated by
functions,[3] as Dik's thesis[4] pointed towards issues with
generative grammar and its analysis of coordination back then, and proposed to solve them with a new theory focused on e.g. concepts such as
subject and
object. The model was originally developed by
Simon C. Dik at the
University of Amsterdam in the 1970s,[5] and has undergone several revisions since then. The latest standard version under the original name is laid out in the 1997 edition,[6] published shortly after Dik's death. The latest version features the expansion of the model with a pragmatic/interpersonal module by Kees Hengeveld and Lachlan Mackenzie.[1] This has led to a renaming of the theory to functional discourse grammar. This type of grammar is quite distinct from
systemic functional grammar as developed by
Michael Halliday and many other linguists since the 1970s.
Semantic function (Agent, Patient, Recipient, etc.), describing the role of participants in states of affairs or actions expressed
Syntactic functions (Subject and Object), defining different perspectives in the presentation of a linguistic expression
Pragmatic functions (Theme and Tail, Topic and Focus), defining the informational status of constituents, determined by the pragmatic context of the verbal interaction
Principles of functional discourse grammar
There are a number of principles that guide the analysis of natural language utterances according to functional discourse grammar.
Functional discourse grammar explains the phonology, morphosyntax, pragmatics and semantics in one linguistic theory. According to functional discourse grammar, linguistic utterances are built top-down in this order by deciding upon:
According to functional discourse grammar, four components are involved in building up an utterance:
The conceptual component, which is where the communicative intention that drives the utterance construction arises
The grammatical component, where the utterance is formulated and encoded according to the communicative intention
The contextual component, which contains all elements that can be referred to in the history of the discourse or in the environment
The output component, which realizes the utterance as sound, writing, or signing
The grammatical component consists of four levels:
The interpersonal level, which accounts for the
pragmatics
The representational level, which accounts for the
semantics
The morphosyntactic level, which accounts for the
syntax and
morphology
The phonological level, which accounts for the
phonology of the utterance
Example
This example analyzes the utterance "I can't find the red pan. It is not in its usual place." according to functional discourse grammar at the interpersonal level.
At the interpersonal level, this utterance is one discourse move, which consists of two
discourse acts, one corresponding to "I can't find the red pan." and another corresponding to "It is not in its usual place."
An ascriptive subact corresponding to "find", which has the function
Focus
A referential subact corresponding to "the red pan", which contains two ascriptive subacts corresponding to "red" and "pan", and which has the function
Topic
The second discourse act consists of:
A declarative illocutionary force
A speaker
An addressee
A communicated content, which consists of:
A referential subact corresponding to "it", which has the function
Topic
An ascriptive subact corresponding to "in its usual place", which has the function Focus
Within this subact there is a referential subact corresponding to "its usual place", which consists of:
A referential subact corresponding to "its"
An ascriptive subact corresponding to "usual"
An ascriptive subact corresponding to "place"
Similar analysis, decomposing the utterance into progressively smaller units, is possible at the other levels of the grammatical component.