FG [Functional Grammar] intends to be a general, typologically adequate theory of the grammatical organization of natural languages. If this intention is to be fulfilled, its rules and principles must be formulated at a sufficient level of abstraction to be applicable to any language, whatever its typological status. Wherever certain linguistic facts are such that they cannot “naturally” be handled by means of the principles of FG, it is the theory, not the language in question, which will have to be adapted. In order to be applicable to languages of any arbitrary type, the theory must have a certain degree of abstractness. But in order to be practically applicable in the description of languages, the theory must be as concrete as possible: it must stay as close as possible to the linguistic facts as they present themselves in any language. This apparent paradox may also be formulated as follows: FG should strive for the lowest level of abstractness which is still compatible with the goal of typological adequacy.
- Dik (1989), a pag.15

FG [Functional Grammar] is intended to be a theory that fulfils this requirement of the functional paradigm. This means, “inter alia”, that wherever possible we shall try to apply the following two principles of functional explanation: (a) a theory of language should not be content to display the rules and principles underlying the construction of linguistic expressions for their own sake, but should try, wherever this is possible at all, to explain these rules and principles in terms of their own functionality with respect to the ways in which these expressions are used. (b) although in itself a theory of linguistic expressions is not the same as a theory of verbal interaction, it is natural to require that it be devised in such a way that it can most easily and realistically be incorporated into a wider pragmatic theory of verbal interaction. Ultimately, the theory of grammar should be an integrated sub-component of our theory of NLU [natural language user].
- Dik (1989), a pag.4

FG [Functional Grammar] recognizes functional relations at three different levels: (i) “Semantic functions“ : Agent, Goal, Recipient. etc. (ii) “Syntactic functions“ : Subject and Object (iii) “Pragmatic functions“ : Theme, Topic, Focus, etc. […].
- Dik (1989), a pag.24

The aim of the theory of FG [Functional Grammar] is to provide the means and principles by which functional grammars of particular languages can be developed. And the highest aim of a functional grammar of a particular language is to give a complete and adequate account of the grammatical organization of connected discourse in that language. Such a grammar should be able to specify all the linguistic expressions of a language by means of a system of rules and principles in which the most significant generalizations about the language are incorporated.
- Dik (1989), a pag.12

This work develops a theory of Functional Grammar (FG), which is meant to reconstruct part of yhe linguistic capacities of NLU [natural language user]. FG is a general theory concerning the grammatical organization of natural languages.
- Dik (1989), a pag.2