On the Lexeme Handful Cover Image

О лексеми прегршт
On the Lexeme Handful

Author(s): Bojana M. Gerun
Subject(s): Language and Literature Studies, Lexis, Semantics, South Slavic Languages, Philology
Published by: Филолошки факултет Универзитета у Бањој Луци
Keywords: handful; ’joined palms’; amount; negligible amount; plenty; particulate; intensification; synonym relation.

Summary/Abstract: Starting from research into the use of the lexeme handful, this paper's author indicates considering a contemporary linguistic situation. Observing electronic news and the results of the survey conducted among fifty students, we conclude that, in contrast to the basic meaning (joined palms) and secondary meaning (amount that fits in joined palms), the particulate (qualification M. Ivić) handful is presently most often used as an intensifier, often with intangible entities, referring to the negligible amount, or in the sense of a lot (plural of something). The primary meaning of this lexeme is to some extent preserved in the works of literature as well as the secondary meaning ʻamount that fits in joined palmsʼ.

  • Issue Year: 2018
  • Issue No: 18
  • Page Range: 191-208
  • Page Count: 18
  • Language: Serbian