Neil Sheldon Manchester Grammar School

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• Neil Sheldon Manchester Grammar School

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Apologia

• I am not a linguist (in either sense of the word)
  
• But I do love languages and linguistics
• My academic specialisms mathematics,
  philosophy, statistics, computer science all
  have links to, or applications in, linguistics
• Got involved, by happy accident, in the 2009
  contest
• Member of UKLO committee, Round 2 tutor,
  team leader (a.k.a. chaperone) at the IOL for the
  last three years

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Olympiads

• Olympiads have been around for many years in
  subjects such as mathematics, physics, chemistry
  biology and informatics (computer programming)
• Offering challenge and reward at a variety of
  levels
• Clear links to curriculum subjects
• subjects in which school teachers feel
  confident
• Hence the numbers into the tens and hundreds of
  thousands

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Linguistics as an Olympiad

• Relatively new 2011 was the 3rd year for the UK
  and the 9th year for the international Olympiad
• Doesnt have such clear links to curriculum
  subjects. English, Classics and MFL might seem
  like natural links, but these subjects are
  generally taught with little or no linguistics
  content
• partly because teachers lack specialist
  knowledge
• partly because of the nature of the curriculum
• Hence the numbers are still small though they
  are growing fast!

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Linguistics as an Olympiad

• But novelty can be a selling point
• A Mathematics Challenge paper can seem much like
  any other exercise in mathematics, but a
  Linguistics paper is different and exciting
• And while the numbers are still relatively small
  it is easier to make it onto the international
  team

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The fascination of linguistics

• It is exciting to see how other languages work
  it helps you to understand how your own language
  works
• Other languages embody other systems of thought
  and other cultural frameworks. Like travel,
  linguistics broadens the mind
• Linguistics can make the strange seem familiar
  and the familiar seem strange
• An approach widely advocated in art, poetry and
  philosophy
• A good way of looking at many aspects of
  education, and certainly all the challenging
  parts of education
• Its fun!

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Linguistics problem solving

• Without the background knowledge of linguistics
  concepts, problem solving is very challenging
  or feels like being thrown into the deep end
• Many school children have been taught little or
  no formal grammar they lack the metalanguage to
  tackle problems
• So linguistics problems can be seen as a largely
  content-free test of intelligence
• which is appealing to the brightest
• but out of step with contemporary educational
  practice

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Organising linguistics competitions

• Its not easy! (Try selling the idea to SMT)
• It requires an enthusiastic teacher
• one who is not afraid to be challenged
• It needs time
• ideally, for preparation (in lessons or clubs)
• definitely, for sitting the paper
• And participation doesnt do anything for a
  schools league table position
• But its not hard to motivate the students the
  following slides have been used successfully with
  students as young as 9 and 10

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Language Puzzles

• Manchester Grammar School Bexwyke Lecture

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How many languages in the world?

• There are various estimates, but most experts
  reckon there are between 6000 and 7000 languages
  spoken in the world today.
• Lots of these languages are spoken by only a very
  small number of older speakers. When these
  speakers die, the language dies.
• A language dies, on average, every two weeks.
• About 4500 languages are thought to be in danger
  of dying out in the next 100 years.

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Most spoken world languages
Language Native speakers Total speakers
850 million 1200 million, all varieties
400 million 500 million
350 million 1800 million
300 million 490 million
280 million 450 million
190 million 250 million
180 million 240 million
150 million 250 million
125 million 130 million
115 million ???
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Most spoken world languages
Language Native speakers Total speakers
Chinese 850 million 1200 million, all varieties
400 million 500 million
350 million 1800 million
300 million 490 million
280 million 450 million
190 million 250 million
180 million 240 million
150 million 250 million
125 million 130 million
115 million ???
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Most spoken world languages
Language Native speakers Total speakers
Chinese 850 million 1200 million, all varieties
Spanish 400 million 500 million
350 million 1800 million
300 million 490 million
280 million 450 million
190 million 250 million
180 million 240 million
150 million 250 million
125 million 130 million
115 million ???
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Most spoken world languages
Language Native speakers Total speakers
Chinese 850 million 1200 million, all varieties
Spanish 400 million 500 million
English 350 million 1800 million
300 million 490 million
280 million 450 million
190 million 250 million
180 million 240 million
150 million 250 million
125 million 130 million
115 million ???
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Most spoken world languages
Language Native speakers Total speakers
Chinese 850 million 1200 million, all varieties
Spanish 400 million 500 million
English 350 million 1800 million
Hindi-Urdu 300 million 490 million
280 million 450 million
190 million 250 million
180 million 240 million
150 million 250 million
125 million 130 million
115 million ???
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Most spoken world languages
Language Native speakers Total speakers
Chinese 850 million 1200 million, all varieties
Spanish 400 million 500 million
English 350 million 1800 million
Hindi-Urdu 300 million 490 million
Arabic 280 million 450 million
190 million 250 million
180 million 240 million
150 million 250 million
125 million 130 million
115 million ???
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Most spoken world languages
Language Native speakers Total speakers
Chinese 850 million 1200 million, all varieties
Spanish 400 million 500 million
English 350 million 1800 million
Hindi-Urdu 300 million 490 million
Arabic 280 million 450 million
Bengali 190 million 250 million
180 million 240 million
150 million 250 million
125 million 130 million
115 million ???
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Most spoken world languages
Language Native speakers Total speakers
Chinese 850 million 1200 million, all varieties
Spanish 400 million 500 million
English 350 million 1800 million
Hindi-Urdu 300 million 490 million
Arabic 280 million 450 million
Bengali 190 million 250 million
Portuguese 180 million 240 million
150 million 250 million
125 million 130 million
115 million ???
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Most spoken world languages
Language Native speakers Total speakers
Chinese 850 million 1200 million, all varieties
Spanish 400 million 500 million
English 350 million 1800 million
Hindi-Urdu 300 million 490 million
Arabic 280 million 450 million
Bengali 190 million 250 million
Portuguese 180 million 240 million
Russian 150 million 250 million
125 million 130 million
115 million ???
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Most spoken world languages
Language Native speakers Total speakers
Chinese 850 million 1200 million, all varieties
Spanish 400 million 500 million
English 350 million 1800 million
Hindi-Urdu 300 million 490 million
Arabic 280 million 450 million
Bengali 190 million 250 million
Portuguese 180 million 240 million
Russian 150 million 250 million
Japanese 125 million 130 million
115 million ???
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Most spoken world languages
Language Native speakers Total speakers
Chinese 850 million 1200 million, all varieties
Spanish 400 million 500 million
English 350 million 1800 million
Hindi-Urdu 300 million 490 million
Arabic 280 million 450 million
Bengali 190 million 250 million
Portuguese 180 million 240 million
Russian 150 million 250 million
Japanese 125 million 130 million
Punjabi 115 million ???
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Identify the languages

one un uno uno um unus
two deux due dos dois duo
three trois tre tres três tres
four quatre quattro cuatro cuatro quattuor
five cinq cinque cinco cinco quinque
six six sei seis seis sex
seven sept sette siete sete septem
eight huit otto ocho oito octo
nine neuf nove nueve nove novem
ten dix diece diez dez decem
hundred cent cento cien cem centum
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Identify the languages
French
one un uno uno um unus
two deux due dos dois duo
three trois tre tres três tres
four quatre quattro cuatro cuatro quattuor
five cinq cinque cinco cinco quinque
six six sei seis seis sex
seven sept sette siete sete septem
eight huit otto ocho oito octo
nine neuf nove nueve nove novem
ten dix diece diez dez decem
hundred cent cento cien cem centum
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Identify the languages
French Italian
one un uno uno um unus
two deux due dos dois duo
three trois tre tres três tres
four quatre quattro cuatro cuatro quattuor
five cinq cinque cinco cinco quinque
six six sei seis seis sex
seven sept sette siete sete septem
eight huit otto ocho oito octo
nine neuf nove nueve nove novem
ten dix diece diez dez decem
hundred cent cento cien cem centum
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Identify the languages
French Italian Spanish
one un uno uno um unus
two deux due dos dois duo
three trois tre tres três tres
four quatre quattro cuatro cuatro quattuor
five cinq cinque cinco cinco quinque
six six sei seis seis sex
seven sept sette siete sete septem
eight huit otto ocho oito octo
nine neuf nove nueve nove novem
ten dix diece diez dez decem
hundred cent cento cien cem centum
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Identify the languages
French Italian Spanish Portuguese
one un uno uno um unus
two deux due dos dois duo
three trois tre tres três tres
four quatre quattro cuatro cuatro quattuor
five cinq cinque cinco cinco quinque
six six sei seis seis sex
seven sept sette siete sete septem
eight huit otto ocho oito octo
nine neuf nove nueve nove novem
ten dix diece diez dez decem
hundred cent cento cien cem centum
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Identify the languages
French Italian Spanish Portuguese Latin
one un uno uno um unus
two deux due dos dois duo
three trois tre tres três tres
four quatre quattro cuatro cuatro quattuor
five cinq cinque cinco cinco quinque
six six sei seis seis sex
seven sept sette siete sete septem
eight huit otto ocho oito octo
nine neuf nove nueve nove novem
ten dix diece diez dez decem
hundred cent cento cien cem centum
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Identify the languages

one ein een en en en
two zwei twee to to två
three drei drie tre tre tre
four vier vier fire fire fyra
five fünf vijf fem fem fem
six sechs zes seks seks sex
seven sieben zeven syv syv sju
eight acht acht otte åtte åtta
nine neun negen ni ni nio
ten zehn tien ti ti tio
hundred hundert honderd ethundrede ett hundre ett hundra
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Identify the languages
German
one ein een en en en
two zwei twee to to två
three drei drie tre tre tre
four vier vier fire fire fyra
five fünf vijf fem fem fem
six sechs zes seks seks sex
seven sieben zeven syv syv sju
eight acht acht otte åtte åtta
nine neun negen ni ni nio
ten zehn tien ti ti tio
hundred hundert honderd ethundrede ett hundre ett hundra
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Identify the languages
German Dutch
one ein een en en en
two zwei twee to to två
three drei drie tre tre tre
four vier vier fire fire fyra
five fünf vijf fem fem fem
six sechs zes seks seks sex
seven sieben zeven syv syv sju
eight acht acht otte åtte åtta
nine neun negen ni ni nio
ten zehn tien ti ti tio
hundred hundert honderd ethundrede ett hundre ett hundra
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Identify the languages
German Dutch Danish
one ein een en en en
two zwei twee to to två
three drei drie tre tre tre
four vier vier fire fire fyra
five fünf vijf fem fem fem
six sechs zes seks seks sex
seven sieben zeven syv syv sju
eight acht acht otte åtte åtta
nine neun negen ni ni nio
ten zehn tien ti ti tio
hundred hundert honderd ethundrede ett hundre ett hundra
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Identify the languages
German Dutch Danish Norwegian
one ein een en en en
two zwei twee to to två
three drei drie tre tre tre
four vier vier fire fire fyra
five fünf vijf fem fem fem
six sechs zes seks seks sex
seven sieben zeven syv syv sju
eight acht acht otte åtte åtta
nine neun negen ni ni nio
ten zehn tien ti ti tio
hundred hundert honderd ethundrede ett hundre ett hundra
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Identify the languages
German Dutch Danish Norwegian Swedish
one ein een en en en
two zwei twee to to två
three drei drie tre tre tre
four vier vier fire fire fyra
five fünf vijf fem fem fem
six sechs zes seks seks sex
seven sieben zeven syv syv sju
eight acht acht otte åtte åtta
nine neun negen ni ni nio
ten zehn tien ti ti tio
hundred hundert honderd ethundrede ett hundre ett hundra
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Identify the languages harder

one un waaHid yi ichi ????
two dau ithnaan èr ni ???
three tri thalaatha san san ???
four pedwar arbaa sì shi ??????
five pump khamsa wu go ????
six chwech sitta lìu roku ?????
seven saith saba qi nana ????
eight wyth thamaaniya ba hachi ??????
nine naw tisa jiu kyu ??????
ten deg  ashara shí ju ??????
hundred cant mia yi-bai hyaku ???
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Identify the languages harder
Welsh
one un waaHid yi ichi ????
two dau ithnaan èr ni ???
three tri thalaatha san san ???
four pedwar arbaa sì shi ??????
five pump khamsa wu go ????
six chwech sitta lìu roku ?????
seven saith saba qi nana ????
eight wyth thamaaniya ba hachi ??????
nine naw tisa jiu kyu ??????
ten deg ashara shí ju ??????
hundred cant mia yi-bai hyaku ???
36
Identify the languages harder
Welsh Arabic
one un waaHid yi ichi ????
two dau ithnaan èr ni ???
three tri thalaatha san san ???
four pedwar arbaa sì shi ??????
five pump khamsa wu go ????
six chwech sitta lìu roku ?????
seven saith saba qi nana ????
eight wyth thamaaniya ba hachi ??????
nine naw tisa jiu kyu ??????
ten deg ashara shí ju ??????
hundred cant mia yi-bai hyaku ???
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Identify the languages harder
Welsh Arabic Chinese
one un waaHid yi ichi ????
two dau ithnaan èr ni ???
three tri thalaatha san san ???
four pedwar arbaa sì shi ??????
five pump khamsa wu go ????
six chwech sitta lìu roku ?????
seven saith saba qi nana ????
eight wyth thamaaniya ba hachi ??????
nine naw tisa jiu kyu ??????
ten deg ashara shí ju ??????
hundred cant mia yi-bai hyaku ???
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Identify the languages harder
Welsh Arabic Chinese Japanese
one un waaHid yi ichi ????
two dau ithnaan èr ni ???
three tri thalaatha san san ???
four pedwar arbaa sì shi ??????
five pump khamsa wu go ????
six chwech sitta lìu roku ?????
seven saith saba qi nana ????
eight wyth thamaaniya ba hachi ??????
nine naw tisa jiu kyu ??????
ten deg ashara shí ju ??????
hundred cant mia yi-bai hyaku ???
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Identify the languages harder
Welsh Arabic Chinese Japanese Russian
one un waaHid yi ichi ????
two dau ithnaan èr ni ???
three tri thalaatha san san ???
four pedwar arbaa sì shi ??????
five pump khamsa wu go ????
six chwech sitta lìu roku ?????
seven saith saba qi nana ????
eight wyth thamaaniya ba hachi ??????
nine naw tisa jiu kyu ??????
ten deg ashara shí ju ??????
hundred cant mia yi-bai hyaku ???
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Pronouncing Russian

• 1 ???? Adeen
• 2 ??? Dva
• 3 ??? Tree
• 4 ?????? Cheteeree
• 5 ???? Pyat
• 6 ????? Shest
• 7 ???? Syem
• 8 ?????? Vo-syem
• 9 ?????? Deh-vyat
• 10 ?????? Des-syat
• 100 ??? Sto

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A languages family tree
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A puzzle for Indiana Jones
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Football teams in Chinese
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Manam Island, Papua New Guinea
The sentences below tell us where Onkau, Kulu,
Mombwa, Tola, Sulung, Sala, Pita and Butokang
live. Can you work out who lives in houses A to E?
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Japanese hiragana
See if you can match the words to their
pronunciations
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Some made up words
Which adjectives seem good and which seem
bad?
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Ancient Greek but in Roman letters
The Greek phrases A-H have been translated into
English, but the translations 1-8 have been
jumbled up. Your task is to un-jumble them.
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Language Puzzles

• Manchester Grammar School Bexwyke Lecture

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• Neil Sheldon Manchester Grammar School