The Russian language has more than a thousand years of history. Some of the expressions that we use without thinking in everyday life, upon initial consideration, may seem illogical or even strange. It is difficult for a foreigner studying Russian to explain why a fly sits on the wall and a vase is on the table. It is also not easy to remember how to speak correctly: put on a coat or dress, smell or feel. Well, the phrase “no, it’s wrong” has become a classic example of Russian logic. This article is about how to say correctly: “the smell is heard or felt.”
Not only the East, but also the language is a delicate matter
The task is quite difficult. Not every linguist will be able to clearly explain how to say correctly: “they hear or feel the smell”. Often for interpretationdifficulties in Russian, it is necessary to turn to dictionaries, reference books, and even material from other languages. In particular, many are wondering how, according to the rules of the Russian - "smells are heard or felt"?
Every nation has a certain picture of the world, which is reflected in one way or another in the system of symbols. But the system itself has internal laws and its own logic. Not only do we make language, but it also makes us.
To understand the difference between the expressions "to smell or feel", it is not necessary to immediately refer to dictionaries. It is easy to see that the verb "hear" refers more to the physical ability to perceive sounds, and the verb "feel" reflects the state of mind.
We perceive the outside world in a complex way, because our senses interact with each other. So, in painting there are cold and warm shades, in music - heavy melodies, etc. Therefore, sometimes we figuratively say that we hear a smell, understanding by this the process of perceiving a particular aroma.
Words, like people, may not fit together
The term "valence" is familiar to many from school. So in chemistry they call the ability of a molecule to bind to another molecule. But the language, despite the abundance of phrases and words that seem to have no logic, is actually a wisely organized system of signs.
In linguistics, valency is the ability of one lexeme to be combined with other words. For example, we say "thin road", "thin path", but"skinny person". Semantically, the word "thin" fits better with inanimate objects or body parts, but people in general are not spoken of in this way. In the famous story by A. Chekhov, one of the friends is called thin, not thin, because this character, unlike his “fat” friend, lost his individuality and honor, turned into a servile flatterer.
Chekhov used the epithet "thin" on purpose, to make the story more emotional. But we sometimes make random mistakes, because in addition to the norms of the literary language, there is also colloquial speech, which often goes beyond the norm. Therefore, in order to understand how to say correctly, “I hear a smell or feel,” you need to turn to the explanatory dictionary and the dictionary of word compatibility in the Russian language. Well, the logic of constructing these phrases was mentioned above.
What the dictionaries say
In the first half of the twentieth century. both forms were absolutely equal - "hear the smell" and "feel the smell". This can be checked in the dictionary of D. S. Ushakova.
However, since the middle of the twentieth century. the language system has changed somewhat and now the only correct general literary norm is the combination “smell”. It is in this form that this expression is presented in the dictionary of word compatibility, published in 1983 by the Institute of the Russian Language. A. S. Pushkin. At the moment, this is one of the most authoritative publications of its kind.
Meanwhile in a live speech…
Linguists are engaged in fixing, describing and substantiating the literary norm. However, almost 30 years have passed since 1983.years, and the language has changed somewhat, because it is constantly and relentlessly evolving. With the improvement of people's living standards, the perfume industry is improving, new types of perfumes are appearing, speci alty stores are opening, etc.
As a result, now we see that the expression "to smell" has not completely fallen into disuse, but has migrated to the area of professional vocabulary. Perfumers do not think about whether you need to smell or feel. After all, for them, perfume is a kind of music of the body, a special language of moods and desires.
Thus, if you do not know whether you hear or smell perfume, you can safely use both of these phrases in colloquial speech. In everyday communication, this will not be a mistake. True, in official documents, if they have to be drawn up, a normalized combination should still be used. If we are talking about an unpleasant smell, then in any case, you need to use the verb "feel".
What other verbs can be combined with the word "smell"
Besides the word “feel”, the following verbs are combined with the lexemes “aroma”, “smell”:
- absorb;
- love;
- have;
- publish;
- not endure;
- do not transfer.
The smell itself can reach or penetrate somewhere/from somewhere, and also remind you of something, like it or not.
How to translate the expression "smell" into other languages
I wonderthat in European languages with the word "smell" the verb "feel" is also most often used: fr. sentir, engl. "feel". True, it should be noted here that if the English do not think about whether to smell or feel, there are other subtleties in their language. Remember at least the famous Nirvana song "Smells like teen spirit". After all, "smell" literally means "to smell", to perceive by smell. How would you translate this name into Russian? A literal translation is impossible, isn't it?
Ukrainian has the same combinations as Russian. Against the background of the normalized expression “smell the smell” in colloquial speech and journalism, you can find the phrase “slightly smell” (literally “hear the smell”).
Perhaps the tendency to perceive perfume aromas as music is characteristic of many Slavic peoples.
Thus, there is no single answer to the question of how it is right to hear or feel the smell. The second option is the official norm, but the first is also acceptable in colloquial and professional speech.
