Phraseologisms with the meaning “indefinite large quantity” in Russian language: problems of classification approach

Zhang Jintao

The problem of classification of phraseologism with the meaning “an indefinite large quantity” is analyzed in the article. The basis of classification is not the structure of phraseologisms, but their degree of contextual freedom / connectedness. According the opinion of the author, the structural approach, proposed by M.Yu. Tikhonova does not allow to see lexical and semantic nuances in the meanings of FE, which determine the valence bonds of phraseologisms. According to the author, the pragmatic approach proposed in the article, is especially relevant for foreigners. The classification presented in the article includes three groups of FE: contextually free, contextually limited, contextually related. FE of the first group are combined with nouns of different lexical and semantic categories and act as synonyms in relation to each other. The valence bonds of FE of the second group are limited tither by additional components of meaning associated with the internal form of phraseology, or by its polysemy or structure. In the meanings of phraseological units of the third group, the quantitative component is associated with the set, the number of which it denotes. This approach allows us to define restrictions on synonymous substitutions between phraseologisms eith a common value of “indefinitely large quantity” and to avoid errors characteristic of foreigners.

Keywords:Russian language, phraseologisms, indefinite large quantity, synonymy, contextual freedom, contextual connectedness, pragmatic approach, valence bonds.