The limits of "oppositional" and the possiblities of "positional linguistics"

Abstract

The term ’'oppositional linguistics" alludes to linguistics of the structuralist type, to be more precise, to the binary formulation originally developed by R. Jacobson for the purposes of phonology. This kind of linguistics, as the central tenet of its method, takes the distinguishing feature identifying language to be in accord with de Saussurc's assertion that "there are only differences" in language. The paper explores the limits of the structuralist method on die more significant levels of language. Examples are given of neutralization, syncretism and homonymy which, regardless of their paradoxical nature, do not essentially disturb the functioning of the language system. Through an analysis of oppositions, the author comes to the conclusion dial they function only within a framework, within a given system or subsystem, and that they necessarily lead to certain sites on the borderlines of language and what is outside language (the linguistic and gnoseological). These sites are keys for understanding die system and its (binary) structure on the level of expression. Positional linguistics commences where oppositional linguistics ceases to be operative. Positional linguistics does not rely on the level of expression but on the content, implementing a dynamic model of representing positions by way of vectors whereby the oppositions of the binary model inscribe their positions (sites) in an order which goes front the general towards the particular. The theoretical assumptions are illustrated with examples of the grammatical category of person and sentence modality. The two models of linguistics analysis do not stand in opposition but complement each other and represent grosso modo what is ordinarily termed the descriptive (oppositional) and explicative (positional) linguistic models.