Semantics and pragmatics of desemanticized numerological uses of atmospheric phenomena nominations

Introduction. Since the second half of the 20^th century, scientists have become interested in the pragmatic side of language. This article discusses names with a figurative desemanticized numerological meaning «large (more than the norm, measures) quantity», combined in direct meaning into the lexical and semantic group "Atmospheric phenomena". The history of the emergence of these meanings, as well as the peculiarities of their functioning, is traced. The relevance of the study is determined by an attempt to analyze the figurative numerological values of atmospheric phenomena nominations in the spoken language of native speakers.
Materials and Methods. The words storm, rain, downpour, hurricane, squall are taken as the material. Based on the comparison of dictionary meanings, the lexemes were combined into the lexical and semantic group "Atmospheric phenomena". A comprehensive methodology, including the semantic method and the method of component analysis, made it possible to identify the features of the functioning of lexemes in speech and their lexical compatibility.
Analysis. The article examines the peculiarities of the semantics of each named nomination in numerological meaning, revealed changes in their content due to the development of the language, as well as discovered new semes in their content in everyday communication of native speakers. The analysis of examples of figurative uses of names of atmospheric phenomena in numerological meaning is carried out by highlighting individual components of meaning, including the component ‘a large number, a multitude’ with further identification of the ability to implement an identifying or characterizing function.
Results. The lexemes related to the LSG «Atmospheric phenomena» reveal differences in the pragmatic component. Some names are used by speakers in the figurative meaning of ‘a large number, a multitude’ often, others are rare and from a functional point of view serve only to directly designate the subject of reality. There are new examples of figurative numerological use of these lexemes, which have not yet been recorded by lexicographers in modern Russian.

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