Ethnocultural and linguo-pragmatic potential of phraseological units as means of national identification of Austrians

Abstract

The research aims to identify the ethnocultural and linguo-pragmatic potential of phraseological units as sources of the distinctiveness of Austrian Standard German. The paper is novel in that it is the first to conduct an analysis of Austrian-specific phraseological units and communicative formulas as ethnocultural markers and means of expressing the national identity of Austrians within the framework of a linguocultural approach to studying the Austrian phraseological system. As a result, the researcher identified the following types of Austrian phraseological units: 1) phraseological units with ethno-realia: a) phraseological units with toponyms; b) comparative phraseological units with anthroponyms; c) phraseological units with pragmatonyms denoting currency; d) phraseological units with names of inherently Austrian food products; e) phraseological units containing words with the -erl, -(e)l suffixes; 2) phraseological units denoting social status and status characteristics; 3) Austrian-specific communicative formulas. Throughout the research, the ethnocultural and linguo-pragmatic potential of Austrian phraseological units and proverbs reflecting cultural codes, peculiarities of the national character, and the worldview of Austrians were determined.