How do we measure “measure”? Measure constructions and Metaphor

Abstract

The article describes Russian measure constructions with the nominal quantifiers куча, груда, море, and туча. These nominal quantifiers are used in different, though overlapping, collocations determined by the semantics of the nouns. These nouns can be used in their literal meanings, or to create a metaphor. In rare cases, combination of metaphor and metonymy is used to add semantic nuances.

From data to theory

“…Within the network of prohibitive constructions, it is possible to distinguish among constructions used to express prohibition of an action that would negatively impact the speaker, of excessive action, and of specific types of actions (such as compliments). The Russian Constructicon contains numerous constructions with nominal quantifiers that all mark a large amount of something but differ in terms of the kinds of objects they imply: buket 'bouquet' is used with a large quantity of unpleasant events, whereas joyful events are quantified in construction with fontan 'fountain' (Rakhilina & Li 2009, Kibisova 2020.…”