Метаязыковой потенциал частицы <i>буквально</i>

The article considers the possibility of particles functioning as metalanguage means. The example of the word bukvalno shows the conditionality of the metalanguage function of a particle by its semantic and pragmatic properties. It is established that the realization of the particle bukvalno as a metalanguage indicator is associated with the creation of the effect of “nomination softening” chosen by the speaker and its “justification” by the lack of alternative lexical means. Depending on the type of usage, the process of the recipient’s perception of the words marked with a particle bukvalno in their figurative or direct meaning is regulated.