Une larme de cognac et un soupçon de lait – à propos de quelques quantifieurs nominaux marquant une petite quantité
Une larme de cognac and un soupçon de lait – About Some of the Nominal Quantifiers That Indicate Small Quantity

Summary/Abstract: In this paper, I wish to present the analysis of collocations DET N1 ‘de’ N2 in French, which is usually used to denote small or minimal amounts of a liquid. Dictionary paraphrases of the collocation referring to a ‘small amount of N’ (fr. ‘petite quantité de N’) or ‘some N’ (fr. ‘un peu de N’) do not always describe the meaning and value of these expressions accurately. For example, ‘une pointe de whisky’ indicates not only a very small amount of alcohol, but also a delicate touch of taste and, thus, a low degree of its intensity. Also the connectivity of DET N1 ‘de’ with N2 described in dictionaries differs from the one found in the actual contemporary text use. DET N1 ‘de’ connects not only with nouns that mean different types of drinks (including alcohol/alcoholic) or liquids, but also with nouns denoting non-countable solids or abstract concepts referring most often to feelings and emotions as well as, surprisingly, music.

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