4. Oppositional reduction of verbal categories In various contextual conditions, one member of an opposition can be used
in the position of the other, counter-member. This phenomenon is usually referred
to as “oppositional reduction” (some authors use the term “oppositional
substitution”). Two major types of oppositional reduction are differentiated:
neutralization and transposition.
Neutralization as a linguistic concept by which we mean suspension of
otherwise functioning oppositions. The position of neutralization is, as a rule, filled
in by the weak member of the opposition due to its more general semantics.
Neutralization is stylistically indifferent, the use of the unmarked member of the
opposition in the position of the marked member does not transgress the expressive
conventions of ordinary speech.
e.g.
The exhibition opens next week.
The example presents a case of neutralization of the opposition “present vs.
future”. The present form “opens”, which is the weak member of the opposition, is
used in the position of the strong member and denotes a future action.
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Neutralization is possible due to the presence of the adverbial modifier of time
(“next week”), which plays the role of the neutralizer in this case.
The other type of oppositional reduction called
