N. discusses the methodology and the principles of functionalism in linguistics, and compares them with the formalism of N. Chomsky. In the light of these principles he considers the theory of functional grammar developed by S.C. Dik, and proposes a number of modifications and expansions to the model. (See also: G.De Schutter, J.Nuyts 1983: 'Towards an integrated model of a functional grammar').