Ich biege mich vor Lachen! / ¡Me parto de la risa! Crosslinguistic Analysis of Verbal Fillers in Hyperbolic Expressions of Sensation: German [(sich) vor Lachen V] and Spanish [V de (la) risa]

The overarching aim of this study is to document and analyze prevalent verbal fillers within a bilingual constructicon, applying onomasiological principles to trace their semantic and pragmatic nuances. It focuses on the German construction [sich vor Lachen V] and [vor Lachen V] and its Spanish equivalents [V de risa] and [V de la risa], uncovering both shared and divergent cognitive-linguistic mechanisms across the two languages. The analysis reveals a strong crosslinguistic preference for reflexive verbs —particularly in Spanish— and highlights the role of morphological variation, such as verb prefixation, in shaping the range of constructions available in German.

By exploring the figurative and often embodied nature of these microconstructions, the study sheds light on how speakers conceptualize and express affective experiences through language. The semantic domains from which these fillers emerge reflect deeply rooted cultural and cognitive models, offering insight into how language mediates emotion. These findings are particularly relevant for language learners and translators, as they reveal subtle crosslinguistic differences affecting both comprehension and production. Ultimately, the study underscores the essential role of crosslinguistic research in fostering intercultural communication within the fields of Applied Linguistics and Translation Studies.