Functional discourse grammar: Difference between revisions

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{{Linguistics}}

'''Functional Discourse Grammar''' is a [[grammar]] theory that explains how [[Natural language | 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 be more psychologically and pragmatically adequate than Functional Grammar <ref>Hengeveld, K. and Lachlan Mackenzie, J. (2008). "Functional Discourse Grammar", Oxford: Oxford University Press.</ref>.

'''Functional grammar''' ('''FG''') and '''functional discourse grammar''' ('''FDG''') are [[grammar]] models and theories motivated by [[functional theories of grammar]]. These theories explain how [[Natural language|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.<ref name="Hengeveld2008">{{cite book|first1=Kees|last1=Hengeveld|first2=J. Lachlan|last2=Mackenzie|date=August 2008|title=Functional Discourse Grammar: A Typologically-Based Theory of Language Structure|___location=Oxford|publisher=Oxford University Press|isbn=978-0-19-927811-4|url=http://www.oup.com/uk/catalogue/?ci=9780199278114}}</ref><ref>{{cite book|series=Linguistic Insights, Studies in Language and Communication|volume=26|editor1=Mackenzie, J. Lachlan|editor2=Gómez-González, María de los Ángeles|title=Studies in Functional Discourse Grammar|publisher=Peter Lang Publishing Group|year=2005|isbn=978-3-03910-696-7|url=http://www.peterlang.com/Index.cfm?vID=10696&vLang=E|archive-url=https://archive.today/20120907183048/http://www.peterlang.com/Index.cfm?vID=10696&vLang=E|url-status=dead|archive-date=2012-09-07|accessdate=2010-06-12}}</ref>

The greatesttop-level unit of analysis in Functionalfunctional Discoursediscourse Grammargrammar is the [[discourse]] move, not the [[Sentence (linguistics)|sentence]] or the [[clause]]. This is a principle that sets Functionalfunctional Discoursediscourse Grammargrammar apart from many other [[linguistics|linguistic]] theories, including its predecessor [[Functionalfunctional Grammar]]grammar.

== Principles of Functional Discourse Grammar ==

== ExampleHistory ==

There are a number of principles that guide the analysis of natural language utterances according to Functional Discourse Grammar.

Functional grammar (FG) is a model of [[grammar]] motivated by [[Functional theories of grammar|functions]],<ref>{{cite journal|last1=Hurford|first1=J|year=1990|title=Nativist and functional explanations in language acquisition|journal=Logical Issues in Language Acquisition|editor-last=Roca|editor-first=I. M|pages=85–136|___location=Foris, Dordrecht|doi=10.1515/9783110870374-007|isbn=9783110870374|url=http://www.isrl.uiuc.edu/~amag/langev/paper/hurford90nativist.html|access-date=2010-06-12|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20080516095612/http://www.isrl.uiuc.edu/~amag/langev/paper/hurford90nativist.html|archive-date=2008-05-16|url-status=dead|url-access=subscription}}</ref> as Dik's thesis<ref>{{cite book |last1=Dik |first1=Simon C. |title=Coordination: its implications for the theory of general linguistics |date=1968 |publisher=North-Holland |___location=Amsterdam |isbn=9780720460285}}</ref> 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 (grammar)|subject]] and [[Object (grammar)|object]]. The model was originally developed by [[Simon C. Dik]] at the [[University of Amsterdam]] in the 1970s,<ref>{{cite book|last=Dik|first=Simon C.|title=The Theory of Functional Grammar, Parts 1 & 2|edition=1|year=1989}}</ref> and has undergone several revisions since then. The latest standard version under the original name is laid out in the 1997 edition,<ref>{{cite book|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=qeMLE_5uvHcC|last=Dik|first=Simon C.|year=1997|title=The Theory of Functional Grammar, Part 1: The Structure of the Clause|edition=2|___location=Berlin|publisher=Mouton de Gruyter|isbn= 9783110154047}}</ref> 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.<ref name="Hengeveld2008" /> 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.

The notion of "function" in FG generalizes the standard distinction of [[grammatical function]]s such as [[grammatical subject|subject]] and [[grammatical object|object]]. Constituents ([[parts of speech]]) of a linguistic [[utterance]] are assigned three types or levels of functions:

The first is that Functional Discourse Grammar explains the phonology, morphosyntax, pragmatics and semantics in one linguistic theory. According to Functional Discourse Grammar, linguistic utterances are built up top-down. That means that first the [[Pragmatics | pragmatic]] aspects of the utterance are decided upon, then the [[Semantics | semantic]] aspects, then the [[Morphosyntax | morphosyntactic]] aspects, and finally the [[Phonology | phonological]] aspects.

#Semantic function (Agent, Patient, Recipient, etc.), describing the role of participants in states of affairs or actions expressed

The greatest unit of analysis in Functional Discourse Grammar is the [[discourse]] move, not the [[Sentence (linguistics)|sentence]] or the [[clause]]. This is a principle that sets Functional Discourse Grammar apart from many other [[linguistics|linguistic]] theories, including its predecessor [[Functional Grammar]].

#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 Functionalfunctional Discoursediscourse Grammargrammar ==

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; and the output component, which finally realizes the utterance as sound, writing or signing.

There are a number of principles that guide the analysis of natural language utterances according to Functionalfunctional Discoursediscourse Grammargrammar.

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:

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 (linguistics)|morphology]]; and the phonological level, which accounts for the [[phonology]] of the utterance.

# The [[Pragmatics|pragmatic]] aspects of the utterance

# The [[Semantics|semantic]] aspects of the utterance

# The [[Morphosyntax|morphosyntactic]] aspects of the utterance

# The [[Phonology|phonological]] aspects of the utterance

According to functional discourse grammar, four components are involved in building up an utterance:

== Example ==

* 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:

As an example, we will analyze 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.

* 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 (linguistics)|morphology]]

* The phonological level, which accounts for the [[phonology]] of the utterance

== Example ==

As anThis example, we will analyzeanalyzes the utterance "I can't find the red pan. It is not in its usual place." according to Functionalfunctional Discoursediscourse Grammargrammar at the interpersonal level.

At the interpersonal level, this utterance is one discourse move, which consists of two [[speech act|discourse acts]], one corresponding to "I can't find the red pan." and another corresponding to "It is not in its usual place"."

* The first discourse act consists of:

** A [[declarative sentence|declarative]] [[illocutionary force]]

** A speaker, denoted by the word "I"

** An addressee

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Similar analysis, decomposing the utterance into progressively smaller units, is possible at the other levels of the grammatical component.

==See also==

*[[Nominal group (language)|Nominal group]]

*[[Thematic equative]]

*[[Verbal Behavior (book)]]

== References ==

<references/>

== External links ==

* [http://home.hum.uva.nl/fg/ Functional Grammar home page] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20191127043847/http://home.hum.uva.nl/fg/ |date=2019-11-27 }}

* [http://www.functionaldiscoursegrammar.org/ Functional Discourse Grammar homepage]

[[Category:Grammar]]

[[Category:Grammar frameworks]]

[[de:Functional Discourse Grammar]]