Transcript Slide 1
Neil Sheldon Manchester Grammar School 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 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 Linguistics as an Olympiad Relatively new: 2011 was the 3rd year for the UK and the 9th year for the international Olympiad Doesn’t 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! 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 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 It’s fun! 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 Organising linguistics competitions It’s 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 doesn’t do anything for a school’s league table position But it’s not hard to motivate the students: the following slides have been used successfully with students as young as 9 and 10 Language Puzzles Manchester Grammar School Bexwyke Lecture 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. 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 ??? 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 ??? 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 ??? 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 ??? 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 ??? 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 ??? 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 ??? 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 ??? 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 ??? 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 ??? 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 ??? 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 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 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 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 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 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 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 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 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 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 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 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 Identify the languages – harder one un waaHid yī ichi один two dau ithnaan èr ni два three tri thalaatha sān san три four pedwar arba’a sì shi четыре five pump khamsa wǔ go пять six chwech sitta lìu roku шесть seven saith sab’a qī nana семь eight wyth thamaaniya bā hachi восемь nine naw tis’a jǐu kyū девять ten deg ’ashara shí jū десять hundred cant mia yī-bǎi hyaku сто Identify the languages – harder Welsh one un waaHid yī ichi один two dau ithnaan èr ni два three tri thalaatha sān san три four pedwar arba’a sì shi четыре five pump khamsa wǔ go пять six chwech sitta lìu roku шесть seven saith sab’a qī nana семь eight wyth thamaaniya bā hachi восемь nine naw tis’a jǐu kyū девять ten deg ’ashara shí jū десять hundred cant mia yī-bǎi hyaku сто Identify the languages – harder Welsh Arabic one un waaHid yī ichi один two dau ithnaan èr ni два three tri thalaatha sān san три four pedwar arba’a sì shi четыре five pump khamsa wǔ go пять six chwech sitta lìu roku шесть seven saith sab’a qī nana семь eight wyth thamaaniya bā hachi восемь nine naw tis’a jǐu kyū девять ten deg ’ashara shí jū десять hundred cant mia yī-bǎi hyaku сто Identify the languages – harder Welsh Arabic Chinese one un waaHid yī ichi один two dau ithnaan èr ni два three tri thalaatha sān san три four pedwar arba’a sì shi четыре five pump khamsa wǔ go пять six chwech sitta lìu roku шесть seven saith sab’a qī nana семь eight wyth thamaaniya bā hachi восемь nine naw tis’a jǐu kyū девять ten deg ’ashara shí jū десять hundred cant mia yī-bǎi hyaku сто Identify the languages – harder Welsh Arabic Chinese Japanese one un waaHid yī ichi один two dau ithnaan èr ni два three tri thalaatha sān san три four pedwar arba’a sì shi четыре five pump khamsa wǔ go пять six chwech sitta lìu roku шесть seven saith sab’a qī nana семь eight wyth thamaaniya bā hachi восемь nine naw tis’a jǐu kyū девять ten deg ’ashara shí jū десять hundred cant mia yī-bǎi hyaku сто Identify the languages – harder Welsh Arabic Chinese Japanese Russian one un waaHid yī ichi один two dau ithnaan èr ni два three tri thalaatha sān san три four pedwar arba’a sì shi четыре five pump khamsa wǔ go пять six chwech sitta lìu roku шесть seven saith sab’a qī nana семь eight wyth thamaaniya bā hachi восемь nine naw tis’a jǐu kyū девять ten deg ’ashara shí jū десять hundred cant mia yī-bǎi hyaku сто Pronouncing Russian 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 100 Один два три четыре пять шесть семь восемь девять десять сто Adeen Dva Tree Cheteeree Pyat Shest Syem Vo-syem Deh-vyat Des-syat Sto A languages family tree A puzzle for Indiana Jones Football teams in Chinese 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? Japanese hiragana See if you can match the words to their pronunciations Some made up words … – Which adjectives seem ‘good’ and which seem ‘bad’? 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. Language Puzzles Manchester Grammar School Bexwyke Lecture Neil Sheldon Manchester Grammar School