The quasi-nominations strategies realized in statements with the expression skazhem tak (so to say)

In our article, we analyze the situations of usage of the meta-marker скажем так ‘so to say’ which is included in phrases when the speaker wishes to emphasize the uncertainty of their own words, e. g. introducing a quasinomination. We define the most widespread speech strategies of quasinominations: euphemization, lowering of the pathos, search for variety, etc. Strategy of euphemization is related to the usage of the masking etiquette nomination, the purpose of which is to soften the anticipated negative effect stemming from negative evaluation of various objects and their qualities. The strategy of lowering of unnecessary grandiloquence and pathos is related to certain communication taboos in Russian verbal culture where excessive self-praise and self-evaluation is considered inappropriate. Indirect nomination of objects, actions, or qualities is related to politeness and political correctness. Strategies of refusal of standard, or, conversely, of excessive liberty in nomination, occur in the situations of violation of regular name usage in relation to certain referents or word combination. We conclude that the usage of the meta-marker скажем так ‘so to say’ as means of characterization of a phrase’s linguistic shaping serves as realization of the speaker’s wish to distance themselves from the chosen nomination for one reason or another, by marking it as not the only possible nomination, regardless of how suitable he considers it to be. However, reasons for ‘imprecise’ nomination, or quasinomination (ethical or specifically linguistic, etc.), are not ex plicitly listed in text due to the abstract meaning of скажем так ‘so to say’; the listener usually guesses it on the basis of the phrase's overall meaning and content.