Terms, clauses and constructions in functional grammar

This article offers a critical evaluation of Functional Grammar (Dik, 1997a,b) by focusing on the main theoretical constructs of the theory, namely clauses, term phrases and complex constructions (clauses, noun phrases and complex sentences, respectively, in standard linguistic terminology). Emphasis is laid on the assessment of the descriptive apparatus of the theory, as well as on its genesis and latest developments, which are oriented towards discourse. Apart from the critical revision of the theory and its partial comparison with other functional models, the main conclusion that is reached is that Functional Grammar should consider along with constructing and identifying reference a third category of localizing reference (including spatial reference and temporal reference) that would provide for the generation of referential adverbials.