LINGUOSEMIOTIC ANALYSES OF NUMBERS IN JAPANESE PHRASEOLOGY

Abstract

The subject matter of the study is the determination and analysis of linguosemiotic peculiarities of numbers in Japanese phraseology. The paper examines the functional and semantic features and means of linguistic representation of numbers, special attention is paid to some cases of numerical prejudices and stereotypes. The relevance of the research topic is determined by the increasing scientific interest to the Japanese culture, which, having formed original national traditions, strictly protects them. The main methods of work are comparative analysis, linguocultural commentary, descriptive method to identify features on the basis of which the meaning of the word is built. An analysis of numerous examples made it possible to explicate the spiritual, sacred significance of numbers. The authors have come to conclusions that the linguistic and semiotic characteristics of numbers in the Japanese language are largely determined by the homophones. Homonymy attaches secondary connotative meanings to numbers, endows them with some sacred or symbolic meaning. It has been revealed that the numbers “three”, “five”, “seven”, “eight” are considered the most significant in the Japanese linguistic culture, forming a branched system of secondary meanings, connotations and associations.