Eleventh International Workshop on Functional Discourse Grammar
Functions in Functional Discourse Grammar
University of Vienna, 8-9 July 2027
Organizers
-
Evelien Keizer (University of Vienna)
-
Matthias Mittendorfer (University of Vienna)
-
Thomas Schwaiger (University of Vienna)
-
Elnora Ten Wolde (University of Graz)
The Eleventh International Workshop on Functional Discourse Grammar (IW-FDG-2027) will be organized by the University of Vienna, Austria, on 8-9 July 2027. As on previous occasions, the workshop will be devoted to a specific aspect of the theory and serves two major aims: (i) the development and improvement of the theory of FDG (Hengeveld & Mackenzie 2008; Keizer 2015; Hengeveld et al. in prep.) and (ii) the publication of an edited volume or special issue consisting of the papers discussed during the workshop. This year’s topic will be Functions in FDG. Previous workshops have all resulted in the publication of a special issue of a respected journal or an edited volume in an established journal or book series. To realize these aims, a special procedure is followed in the preparation and organization of the workshop.
Procedure and deadlines:
- 15 November 2026: deadline for submission of an extended abstract (1,200-1,500 words, excluding references). Abstracts have to be directly related to the topic of the workshop. Only one abstract will be accepted per author (with the exception of co-authored abstracts). Abstracts will be evaluated anonymously by the members of the programme committee. The abstract should provide sufficient detail to assess the contents of the paper that will be based on it.
- 15 December 2026: authors will be informed of the outcome of the selection procedure. Authors of selected abstracts will be added to a closed discussion list, to provide a platform for sharing and exchanging ideas, suggestions, data, etc.
- 1 May 2027: complete first drafts due. Each draft will be reviewed by three other participants of the workshop and will be read by the remaining participants in preparation of the workshop.
- 15 June 2027: internal reviews due. Comments will be collected/summarized by the organizers and will be distributed among the participants in the workshop.
- 8-9 July 2027: each paper will be discussed in detail during the workshop in a number of chaired sessions.
The topic
Forming an integral part of frames and templates, functions have always played an important role in Functional Discourse Grammar (and its predecessor, Dik’s Functional Grammar). Functions, like operators, present grammatical strategies, the difference between them being that “[functions] are relational, holding between the entire unit and other units at the same layer, while [operators] are not, applying only to the unit itself” (Hengeveld & Mackenzie 2008: 14; see also Genee et al. 2016; Keizer 2023). Moreover, as reflected in the FDG formalism, functions scope over operators (and modifiers). Hengeveld & Mackenzie (2008) recognize four types of functions, each applying to an individual layer within a certain domain. Presented in a top-down manner, these are:
-
Rhetorical functions (Interpersonal Level) are assigned within the Move to Subsidiary (i.e. dependent) Discourse Acts. Examples are Motivation, Orientation, Concession and Correction.
-
Pragmatic functions (Interpersonal Level) are assigned to Subacts within the Communicated Content. FDG recognizes three pragmatic functions (Topic, Focus, Contrast), and combinations of these functions.
-
Semantic functions (Representational Level) are assigned to arguments within the Situational Property, as well as to modifiers at all layers (provided the function is formally expressed). In the case of arguments, FDG distinguishes three macro-functions (Actor, Undergoer, Location); more specific micro-functions (Experiencer, Recipient, Reference, etc.) may be relevant for individual languages. Modifier functions include Cause, Purpose, Time, Location, Instrument, etc.
-
The syntactic functions Subject and Object (Morphosyntactic Level) are (in languages that have them) regarded as the result of morphosyntactic alignment, i.e. as determining the form and position of an element not on the basis of functional information from the higher levels, but rather on the basis of the structural properties of the language in question.
Despite their crucial role in the theory, however, functions have never been clearly defined or systematically treated. One problem concerns the fact that the notions of scope and relationality are not always easy to apply: thus, it is not always easy to determine which layer a function belongs to, and it may be difficult to distinguish functions from operators. For instance, the expression in sum, which was analysed as an operator on the Move in Hengeveld & Mackenzie (2008: 60), has been reclassified as a function on the Move or Discourse Act in Hengeveld et al. (in prep.), while Smit (2007) suggests treating Focus not as a function, but as an operator.
Likewise, the distinction between functions and predicates is not always straightforward. Here the more general issue of how to determine the grammatical vs. lexical status of an element comes into play. This has led to different proposals concerning the status of (spatial) adpositions (e.g. Keizer 2008; Mackenzie 2013; Giomi 2023), conjunctions (Hengeveld & Wanders 2007; Pérez Quintero 2013; Giomi 2023) or causativity markers (García Velasco & Keizer 2014). To solve some of these issues, Giomi (2023) introduces the in-between category of lexical functions (in analogy to lexical operators).
Finally, over the years, several papers have discussed the need for further functions or types of function, e.g. Result (Keizer 2009), Givenness (García Velasco 2013, 2014), Standard (García Velasco 2022; Giomi 2022); Conclusion (Ten Wolde 2025, to appear) and Host- vs. Discourse-oriented functions (Mittendorfer 2025). Nevertheless, no comprehensive treatment of functions in FDG has been developed so far.
Hengeveld et al. (in prep.) are currently developing such a treatment, which will involve the following innovations (a manuscript detailing this treatment will be distributed among the participants of the workshop):
- A more precise definition that distinguishes functions more clearly from operators, while at the same time being broad enough to cover both argument and modifier functions.
-
A distinction between host- and frame-oriented functions (cf. Mittendorfer 2025), whereby the former indicate the relation between a unit (the dependent) and some other unit (the nucleus, or host) within a larger unit, while the latter indicate the role of a unit within the larger unit (or frame).
-
A distinction, within the class of host-oriented rhetorical functions, between macro-functions, determining the position of a dependent unit vis-à-vis the nucleus, and micro-functions which are used to trigger explicit markers of functions (as for, for example, that is, etc.), and which can be assigned to dependent and independent units.
-
The introduction of a new interpersonal layer, the Discourse Segment, which consists of one or more Moves, thus allowing functions to be assigned to Moves.
-
A redefinition of the pragmatic function Topic, distinguishing two types: Aboutness Topics and Frame-setting Topics.
-
The introduction of the pragmatic function Background (see Mittendorfer 2025; Hengeveld & Keizer 2025).
-
Widening the domain of the pragmatic function Contrast, allowing it to be assigned outside the Communicated Content.
-
Providing more reliable diagnostics for distinguishing between the representational macro-functions Actor, Undergoer and Location (now: Involvee).
For the workshop, we would like to invite contributions that apply, discuss, or challenge the above modifications or provide further evidence for or against them. Contributions dealing with more general aspects of functions are equally welcome, as there remains much to be explored (see below for a list of potential topics). Contributions may be typological or language-specific, theoretical or applied, synchronic or diachronic. The only limitation on contributions is that they, in one way or other, should contribute to a better understanding of functions in FDG.
Potential questions to be addressed
Rhetorical functions:
-
How many do we need? Do we need new ones? On what basis do we decide whether a new function is required/justified?
-
Is the distinction between frame- and host-oriented functions useful? How about the distinction between macro- and micro-functions?
Pragmatic functions:
-
How should the pragmatic functions (Topic, Focus, Contrast) be defined? How are these functions realized (particles, affixes, constructions, position, prosody)?
-
What are the consequences of the introduction of the Comment layer (Smit 2007; Keizer et al. to appear; Mittendorfer 2025)?
-
How do we define lexical functions (Giomi 2023)?
Semantic functions:
-
How do we distinguish between rhetorical and semantic functions (e.g. Concession, Condition, Purpose, Conclusion)?
-
Which macro-functions are needed at the Representational Level? What tests can be used to distinguish these functions?
-
Which micro-functions do we need? What kind of evidence justifies the introduction of a new function?
Syntactic functions:
-
These have so far been treated as cases of morphosyntactic alignment. Do we really need these functions? Are they really functions (in the FDG sense; see e.g. Bakker & Siewierska 2007; Keizer 2014)?
The abstract
Anyone interested in participating in the workshop is kindly requested to let us know as soon as possible (at functionaldiscoursegrammar@gmail.com), so that we know at an early stage how many participants we may expect. Extended abstracts (1,200-1,500 words, excluding references) on the aforementioned general topic need to be submitted by 15 November 2026 to the same email address. Please note that by sending in an abstract you express your willingness to take part not only in the workshop but also in the various preparatory activities specified above.
The workshop
During the workshop, each paper will be discussed in great detail during a number of chaired sessions. Contributors will be asked to react to the comments they have received on their paper, after which other participants can ask questions and make suggestions. The aim of this procedure is twofold: it will help to improve the final versions of the papers and it will allow us to create a unified set of papers, which will enhance the chances of publication as a special issue or a thematic volume.
Funding
We are at the moment applying for funds in order to provide some financial support for participants in the workshop. Although we are hopeful that we will be able to obtain some funding, we recommend that participants do not refrain from applying for funding from their own universities or research organizations when they see an opportunity to do so.
The programme committee
The programme committee will consist of:
-
Riccardo Giomi (University of Amsterdam)
- Matthias Mittendorfer (University of Vienna)
-
Thomas Schwaiger (University of Vienna)
-
Elnora Ten Wolde (University of Graz)
The email address functionaldiscoursegrammar@gmail.com is available for all matters related to the workshop.
References
Bakker, Dik and Siewierska, Anna. 2007. The implementation of grammatical functions in Functional Discourse Grammar. Alfa 51.2, 269-292.
García Velasco, Daniel. 2013. Raising in Functional Discourse Grammar. In J. Lachlan Mackenzie and Hella Olbertz (eds.), Casebook in Functional Discourse Grammar, 249-276. Amsterdam: Benjamins.
García Velasco, Daniel. 2014. Activation and the relation between context and grammar. Pragmatics 24.2, 297-316.
García Velasco, Daniel and Keizer, Evelien. 2014. Derivational morphology in Functional Discourse Grammar. In María de los Ángeles Gómez González, Francisco José Ruiz de Mendoza Ibáñez and Francisco Gonzálvez-García (eds.), Theory and practice in functional-cognitive space, 151-177. Amsterdam: Benjamins.
Genee, Inge, Keizer, Evelien and García Velasco, Daniel. 2016. The lexicon in Functional Discourse Grammar: Theory, typology, description. Linguistics 54.5, 877-906.
Giomi, Riccardo. 2022. Similatives are Manners, comparatives are Quantities (except when they aren’t). Open Linguistics 8.1, 650-674.
Giomi, Riccardo. 2023. A Functional Discourse Grammar theory of grammaticalization - Volume 1: Functional change. Leiden: Brill.
Hengeveld, Kees and Keizer, Evelien. 2025. General principles of linearization in Functional Discourse Grammar. In Elnora ten Wolde, Riccardo Giomi and Kees Hengeveld (eds.), Linearization in Functional Discourse Grammar, 43-84. Berlin: De Gruyter Mouton.
Hengeveld, Kees, Keizer, Evelien and Giomi, Riccardo. In prep. The Oxford reference guide to Functional Discourse Grammar. Oxford: Oxford University Press.
Hengeveld, Kees and Mackenzie, J. Lachlan. 2008. Functional Discourse Grammar: A typologically-based theory of language structure. Oxford: Oxford University Press.
Hengeveld, Kees and Wanders, Gerry. 2007. Adverbial conjunctions in Functional Discourse Grammar. In Mike Hannay and Gerard Steen (eds.), Structural-functional studies in English grammar: In honor of Lachlan Mackenzie, 211-227. Amsterdam: Benjamins.
Keizer, Evelien. 2008. English prepositions in Functional Discourse Grammar. Functions of Language 15.2, 216-256.
Keizer, Evelien. 2009. Verb-preposition constructions in FDG. Lingua 119.8, 1186-1211.
Keizer, Evelien. 2014. Context and cognition in Functional Discourse Grammar: What, where and why? Pragmatics 24.2, 399-423.
Keizer, Evelien. 2015. A Functional Discourse Grammar for English. Oxford: Oxford University Press.
Keizer, Evelien. 2023. Enation and agnation in multi-level models: The case for Functional Discourse Grammar. In Caroline Gentens, Lobke Ghesquière, William McGregor and An Van linden (eds.), Reconnecting form and meaning: Lexis and grammar from cognitive-functional and usage-based perspectives, 267-298. Amsterdam: Benjamins.
Keizer, Evelien, Hengeveld, Kees and Giomi, Riccardo. To appear. The Interpersonal Level in Functional Discourse Grammar. In Monielly Saverio Serafim, Matthias Mittendorfer and Kees Hengeveld (eds.), The Interpersonal Level in Functional Discourse Grammar. Amsterdam: Benjamins.
Mackenzie, J. Lachlan. 2013. Spatial adpositions between lexicon and grammar. In J. Lachlan Mackenzie and Hella Olbertz (eds.), Casebook in Functional Discourse Grammar, 67-93. Amsterdam: Benjamins.
Mittendorfer, Matthias. 2025. A functional approach to the prosody of information packaging. Vienna: University of Vienna (Doctoral dissertation).
Pérez Quintero, María Jesús. 2013. Grammaticalization vs. lexicalization: The Functional Discourse Grammar view. Revista Canaria de Estudios Ingleses 67, 97-121.
Smit, Niels. 2007. Information packaging in Functional Discourse Grammar. Alfa 51.2, 91-118.
Ten Wolde, Elnora. 2025. Adverbials in FDG: A case of English purpose and result. Web Papers in Functional Discourse Grammar 94, 1-30.
Ten Wolde, Elnora. To appear. Clause linking and information structure: A FDG analysis of English purpose and result adverbial clauses. In Monielly Saverio Serafim, Matthias Mittendorfer and Kees Hengeveld (eds.), The Interpersonal Level in Functional Discourse Grammar. Amsterdam: Benjamins.