CLT DEP CTLR CONCERNED THAT DA20; DEPARTING OPPOSITE DIRECTION TO INBOUND B727; WAS PROVIDING VISUAL SEPARATION.

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CLT TWR GAVE US A CLRNC FOR TKOF ON RWY 5 WITH OPPOSITE DIRECTION TFC ON EXTENDED FINAL. WE SAW THE TFC WHEN WE LINED UP FOR TKOF. I ESTIMATE HE WAS ABOUT 25 MI OUT AS WE STARTED THE ROLL. UPON GOING TO DEP; THE CTLR STATED SOMETHING LIKE 'TFC 12 O'CLOCK POS; TURN R HDG 090 DEGS.' I STATED THAT WE HAD TFC IN SIGHT AND SINCE OUR ON COURSE HDG WAS ABOUT 45 DEGS; COULD WE TURN L AND MAINTAIN VISUAL SEPARATION?' THE CTLR CAME BACK WITH 'MAINTAIN VISUAL SEPARATION.' AT THIS POINT; I WAS UNCLR OF THE INSTRUCTION. I DIDN'T KNOW IF WE WERE CLRED TO TURN L; OR SHOULD STILL TURN R TO 090 DEGS. I BEGAN A SLIGHT L TURN WHEN THE CTLR THEN SAID; 'TURN R 090 DEGS; MAINTAIN VISUAL SEPARATION.' HE THEN ASKED IF OUR TFC COULD SEE US. (THE COULD.) HE ALSO ASKED THEM TO MAINTAIN VISUAL SEPARATION. BOTH ACFT COULD CLRLY SEE EACH OTHER; AND I BELIEVE WE WERE SEVERAL MI APART; BUT I WANT TO NOTE HOW EASY IT IS TO MISUNDERSTAND AN ATC DIRECTIVE. THE CTLR SEEMED OK ABOUT THE SIT. I JUST WANTED TO EXPRESS THE AMBIGUITY FACTOR. IN RETROSPECT; I SHOULD HAVE CONTINUED THE R TURN UNTIL THE CTLR STATED; 'CLRED L-HAND TURN AND MAINTAIN VISUAL SEPARATION.'