Sintagmatics vs. Combinatorics: Basic Principles of Combinatorial Linguistics

Abstract

The article is devoted to syntagmatics and combinatorics that form the basis of combinatorial linguistics or science of language which studies linear relations of language units and their combinatorial potential. Syntagmatics is treated as an aspect of language research, which involves the study of the rules of compatibility of the language units and their realization in speech. The focus is made on two linguistic phenomena: (1) valence, which is manifested at the language level and represents a potential combinability of language units, (2) compatibility, which is manifested at the level of speech and represents the realization of valency. Combinatorics is treated as making combinations of words that are subordinate to specific communicative tasks under the conditions of their implementation. The author argues that in the framework of combinatorial linguistics the syntagmatics includes forming language units in a linear sequence according to the rules of combinatorics. The limitations are commented: (1) in solving of communicative tasks (givenness of sense) (2) in terms of the implementation of this task, (3) in selecting a specific set of language units that express a given meaning. The author comes to the conclusion that syntagmatics and combinatorics equally determine the combinability of language units and are relative to each other in equipollently opposition.