CATAPHORIC TIES OF THE RUSSIAN WORD ШТУКА IN THE PATTERN ТАКАЯ ШТУКА, КАК

Abstract

The article discusses the use of the noun of broad meaning штука in the pattern такая штука, как ‘such thing as’ in the cataphoric function. The definition of the word thing is analysed in the comparison with the definitions of other words, acting as referents. The semantic field of the word штука is extensive and includes different categories of objects ‒ things, situations, human beings and notions. They all correspond with the notion of the word штука. A comparison metaphor emerges on the basis of resemblance of different categories in the pattern такая штука, как. The considered pattern creates cataphoric relations in simple and complex sentences as well as between sentences. The definitions of the words which constitute the pattern, i.e. такой ‘such’ and как ‘as, like’, are also carefully analysed; this helps to understand better the reason of emerging cataphoric reference. Finally, there are some key features that characterize functioning of the noun штука in the considered pattern: the utterance acquires conversational style and with the presence of an attribute it becomes subjective.