On parametrical norms problem

The article analyses one of the varieties of norms that are reflected in the semantics of language units. The norm is general stereotyped ideas of quantitative and qualitative object characteristics and of its place in the linguistic picture of the world that are accepted in a language group as a due, thus positively evaluated, state for this type of objects. All the norms reflected in language units meanings can fall in two classes by their content: parametrical norms and axiological norms. Axiological norms content is the optimal state of the object. The meaning of parametrical norms is the average degree of quality of the object. The idea of the average degree of the object's quality finds expression in the language mainly in parametrical adjectives, in nouns they form and in the so-called degrees of quality. Each of these groups is semantically heterogeneous and includes different units. Adjectives denoting size are the kernel of the class of parametrical adjectives, for example: big -small, high - low, wide - narrow, frequent - rare, deep - shallow, strong - weak, heavy - light, large - small, long - short, thick - thin, etc. It is accepted to classify experience adjectives that indicate the properties of the object that influence people and cause certain reactions as parametrical adjectives, for example: hot, bitter, prickly, hard, rigid, etc. Words indicating other physical parameters of objects (including velocity, age, power and so on) are peripheral parametrical adjectives, for example: weak -strong (wind), old - young (person), old - new (house), steep - flat (slope), etc. All these groups of adjectives express relation to norm only in case of indicating any positive (for example: broad way, hot tea, sharp knife) or negative quality of the object (for example: small potatoes, warm beer, blunt scissors). Derivative adjectives of degree of quality formed with the help of special morphemes and repetitions, having certain gradation meaning, for example: большущий, здоровенный, малюсенький, толстенький, худой-расхудой, also belong to parametrical adjectives. Substantives with magnifying and diminutive suffixes and prefixes are similar in semantics, for example: ножища, архиплут, малютка, крошечка. Degrees of quality and substantives with magnifying affixes in most cases express negative opinion of the object. This opinion is conditioned by the exceeding of the norm of quality by the object. On the contrary, degrees of quality and substantives with diminutive suffixes, as a rule, do not express negative evaluation of the object despite the fact that these qualities are not normal either. Derivatives with diminutive derogatory suffixes are exceptions to this rule, for example: старикашка, комнатушка, комнатенка, городишко.

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