THE SEMANTICS OF NUMBERS IN GERMAN PHRASEOLOGY

Аннотация

This article presents information on the semantics of numbers in German phraseology, specifically on the characteristics and significance of numbers in idiomatic expressions formed with numerals. Keywords: phraseology, numerical idiomatic expressions, intonation, minimal segment, numerical component. Despite the existence of various linguistic studies describing the nature of numerical phraseologisms, the specific meanings and symbols of numbers have not been thoroughly analyzed. At the same time, there is significant interest in the symbolic and even mystical aspects of numbers. This article presents how the symbolism of numbers is reflected in language and, accordingly, in itsintegral part—idiomaticexpressions, specifically in theGerman language. German contains many short, meaningful, witty, and metaphorical phrases known as idioms, and the branch of linguistics studying them is phraseology. Idioms reflect folk wisdom and have existed in the language for decades or even centuries, as people enjoy metaphorical expressions conveying humor and satire. Phraseology holds an important place in language due to its richness of meaning, imagery, conciseness, and vividness. Therefore, idioms originate from various sources, including the speech of professionals that later entered the literary language. Some idioms are based on historical events of a nation or ancient myths and legends. Other idioms have come from religious texts, folk sayings, and the expressions of writers, scholars, and publicfigures. H.Burger categorizes idiomsintothree groups: 1.Expressionsdenoting objects, processes, and phenomena ofreality. 2.Structural expressions establishinggrammatical relationships. 3.Communicativeidiomsfulfillingspecific functions ininteraction. [1] Idioms are equivalent to inseparable word combinations assigned to specific grammatical categories. For example: „j-m eins auf die Birne geben“ (“to hit someone on the head”), „über zwei Ecken j-n/etw kennen“ (“toknow someoneorsomething indirectly”). [2] The structural-semantic classification of idioms is based on the degree of semantic integration of their components. According to this classification, idioms are divided into four groups: 1.Idiomaticcombinations 2.Idiomaticunits 3.Idiomaticcollocations 4.Idiomaticexpressions[3] Idioms are crucial in learning a language because they add color and expressiveness, making the author's message more understandable and convincing. Studying idioms scientifically contributes to a better understanding of the language itself. They are closely related to vocabulary, and analyzing them helps understand theirstructure, formation, and usage in language. 143 INTERNATIONAL MULTIDISCIPLINARY JOURNAL FOR RESEARCH & DEVELOPMENT SJIF2019:5.2222020:5.5522021:5.6372022:5.4792023:6.5632024:7,805 eISSN:2394-6334 https://www.ijmrd.in/index.php/imjrd Volume12,issue06(2025) A number is a concept that serves to express quantity and is one of the ways the category ofquantity is manifested in language. Theinitial stagein forming theabstract category of quantity involves establishing the equivalence of concrete sets of objects. The concept of number emerged as a result ofcounting individual items. Over time,physical form and objectivitywere replaced by theabstract notionof number. [5] The external relationships and characteristics of objects or their parts are most precisely expressed through numbers. The function includes identifying the relation of numerical components to numbers or other parts of speech. A “numerical component” in an idiom is a word that includes an explicit or implicit reference to a number. In idioms, numerical components acquire new meanings. [5] Comparing idioms with the number “one,” it is evident that these are among the most frequently used in German. Examples include: - “Erst die Arbeit, dann das Vergnügen” (First the work, then the pleasure) – First fulfill duties, then relax. Grammatically composed ofa numeral, noun,and conjunction. - “Mir ist alles eins” (It’s all the same to me) – Semantically neutral; composed of a noun, pronoun, verb, and numeral. - “Sich mit j-m eins wissen (fühlen)” (To share someone’s opinion) – Emotionally expressive; consists ofapreposition, verb, andnumeral. -“Einswerden (sein)” –(To agree, tocome to an agreement). -“J-m eins auf/vor dieBirne geben,” “J-m eins auf dieNase geben”–(To slap someone). Unlike idioms, in proverbs and sayings, the process of synonymy within the language takes place. The next group examined includes idioms with the number “two.” A distinctive feature of these expressions is the existence of equivalents with similar components, semantics, and syntax in otherlanguages. Examplesinclude: - German: “Niemand kann zwei Herren dienen.” (You can only serve one master.) Uzbek: “Bir ishningboshini tutgan ma’qul.” - German: “Man soll nicht zwei Hasen auf einmal jagen.” Uzbek: “Ikkita quyonni quvgan bitta ham tutolmaydi.” [6] More examples can be given, but even those provided show the pa