01077nas a2200145 4500008004100000245010300041210006900144300001200213490000700225520056500232653002200797653003600819100001700855856005900872 1993 eng d00aOn the Balkan Equivalents of a Language Universal (Expressions of the Type When Hell Freezes Over)0 aBalkan Equivalents of a Language Universal Expressions of the Ty a33–370 v183 a
Based on data from more than fifty languages, the author of this paper has reached the conclusion that expressions of the type „when Hell freezes over“ form a language universal. The mechanism of this universal is shown. Expressions with this meaning from all present-day Balkan languages are further examined. The article advances several hypotheses concerning the diffusion and the possible interrelation of these expressions. The final idea of the paper is that Balkan linguistics is in no danger of running out of data for further investigation.
10aLanguage Contacts10aЕзикови контакти1 aVrabie, Emil uhttps://naum.slav.uni-sofia.bg/librislavici/vrabie1993