FEATURES OF FUNCTIONING OF THE METATEXT OPERATOR “ROUGHLY SPEAKING”

Abstract

The article considers an introductory-modal phrase “roughly speaking” from the point of view of its pragmatic functions. The relevance of the study is due to the anthropocentric orientation of modern linguistics. The introductory-modal phrase “roughly speaking” in the function of the metatext operator expresses the speaker’s reflection in relation to the chosen name of the object or situation. As a result of the study, it is found that there are roughly speaking1 and roughly speaking2 that differ in functions. Rough talk1 is used to reduce the categoricality of the statement and to introduce a rather sharp nomination, which, in the speaker’s opinion, more accurately characterizes the situation. Roughly speaking2 is used to indicate the approximate name of an object or situation. This name is required by the speaker for a more visual explanation or a generalized designation, if one does not need an accurate description of the object. The results of the research are important for the general theory of metatext, and can also be used in the practice of teaching Russian as a foreign language.