Combinatorial linguistics (on raising the problem)

Combinatorial linguistics is a branch of linguistic science that studies linear relations of language units and their combinatorialprofile. This branch represents the synthesis of two fields: syntagmatics, that is the aspect of a language involving compatibility ofsingle-level units, and combinatorics, the content of which is compiling and researching of word-combinations subordinated to definitecommunicative tasks under existing conditions of their realization, which can be formed from the given number of words. Combinatoriallinguistics considers the problems of compatibility, correlation of semantics and syntagmatics between language units, their functions,combinatory properties and lexicographical description of language units compatibility. Depending on the unit of analysis combinatoriallinguistics is divided into combinatorial phonology, combinatorial morphology, combinatorial morphemics and combinatoriallexicology. Topicality of the given branch is conditioned by the following reasons: 1) demand of classifying systematic description ofcollocation properties of language units; 2) appeal to investigating the functional aspect of the language; 3) requirement to study thecognitive aspect of compatibility; 4) extension of teaching foreign languages that makes demand on comparative typological analysis indifferent languages; 5) need in compiling combinatory dictionaries in various spheres of language discourse. The aim of combinatoriallinguistics represents the theoretical description and solution of the problems connected with syntagmatic relations and combinatoryproperties of language units, the nature of compatibility, the synthesis of semantics and compatibility of language signs; the functions ofcompatibility, as well as its applied aspect. The realization of the given aim implies the statement of the following problems: 1) to definethe structure and content of combinatorial linguistics; 2) to denote the position of this branch in the structure of linguistic science; 3) toconsider the doctrines about syntagmatic relations of words in Russian and foreign linguistics; 4) to work out terminological base ofcombinatorial linguistics; 5) to single out the branches of combinatorial linguistics; 6) to justify and describe combinatorial lexicologyas one of the main branches of combinatorial linguistics. Thus, researches within combinatorial linguistics stimulate the problem ofcreating a new branch of linguistics with its own terminological base and probative scientific doctrine.

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