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§ 3. In various contextual conditions, one member of an opposition 
can be used in the position of the other, counter-member. This 
phenomenon should be treated under the heading of "oppositional 
reduction" or "oppositional substitution". The first version of the 
term ("reduction") points out the fact that the opposition in this 
case is contracted, losing its formal distinctive force. The second 
version of the term ("substitution") shows the very process by 
which the opposition is reduced, namely, the use of one member 
instead of the other. 
By way of example, let us consider the following case of the singu-
lar noun-subject: Man conquers nature. 
The noun man in the quoted sentence is used in the singular, but it 
is quite clear that it stands not for an individual person, but for 
people in general, for the idea of "mankind". In other words, the 
noun is used generically, it implies the class of denoted objects as a 
whole. Thus, in the oppositional light, here the weak member of 
the categorial opposition of number has replaced the strong mem-
ber. 
Consider another example: Tonight we start for London. 
The verb in this sentence takes the form of the present, while its 
meaning in the context is the future. It means that the opposition 
"present — future" has been reduced, the weak member (present) 
replacing the strong one (future). 

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The oppositional reduction shown in the two cited cases is stylisti-
cally indifferent, the demonstrated use of the forms does not trans-
gress the expressive conventions of ordinary speech. This kind of 
oppositional reduction is referred to as "neutralisation" of opposi-
tions. The position of neutralisation is, as a rule, filled in by the 
weak member of the opposition due to its more general semantics. 
Alongside of the neutralising reduction of oppositions there exists 
another kind of reduction, by which one of the members of the op-
position is placed in contextual conditions uncommon for it; in 
other words, the said reductional use of the form is stylistically 
marked. E.g.: That man is constantly complaining of something. 
The form of the verbal present continuous in the cited sentence 
stands in sharp contradiction with its regular grammatical meaning 
"action in progress at the present time". The contradiction is, of 
course, purposeful: by exaggeration, it intensifies the implied dis-
approval of the man's behaviour. 
This kind of oppositional reduction should be considered under the 
heading of "transposition". Transposition is based on the contrast 
between the members of the opposition, it may be defined as a con-
trastive use of the counter-member of the opposition. As a rule (but 
not exclusively) transpositionally employed is the strong member 
of the opposition, which is explained by its comparatively limited 
regular functions.