马丁内开创了法国功能语言学派，其语言思想以功能性、相关性、经济性三大特征为中心。其中，功能性是马丁内看待语言问题的基本角度，相关性用来说明语言各层面的功能，经济性是语言发展变化的根本动力。这三大特征之间并不孤立，而是相互联系、相互影响、相互渗透。

Martinet created the French language school of functionalism． Function，relevance and economy are the three principles in his linguistic ideas． Among these principles，function is the fundamental point of view of linguistic of Martinet，relevance is used to describe the functions of all levels of language，and economy is the fundamental force driving the change of language． And these three principles can not be separated; they are linked with mutual influences and penetrations．