What is the International Linguistics Olympiad all about?
This linguistics competition, which is more like a puzzle, requires creativity and imagination at its peak.
Ever heard of the Olympic Games? Probably yes. But have you heard of the International Linguistics Olympiad? Well, it's an annual competition that tests participants’ linguistic prowess.
Just as games require different skill sets including mental strength and perseverance, this linguistics competition, which is more like a puzzle, requires creativity and imagination at its peak.
The competition brings together secondary school students and experts from various fields of linguistics. As for participants, the number of languages spoken doesn't really matter. It's the ability to identify patterns; analyse the grammar, structure, culture, and history of different languages and to demonstrate their linguistic abilities through puzzles and problem-solving challenges, that matter.
In other words, the gold or bronze or silver medal is won by the most creative, imaginative, hardworking, logical participants not necessarily the polyglots or a team with a bunch of linguists.
From Moscow to Pakistan
While the Olympic Games traced its history to Greece, the linguistics competition was first organised in 1965 in Moscow on the initiative of Alfred Zhurinsky (1938-1991). Zhurinsky initiated the game as a fifth-year student of linguistics, under the guidance of the mathematician Vladimir Uspensky.
With a PhD in philological sciences, Zhurinsky had a very diverse range of research interests, including sound symbolism, sociolinguistics, paremiology, and the theory of the linguistic problem as a genre.
The first traditional Olympiad was regularly held at the Moscow State University from 1965 until 1982. It has since held around countries of the world, with teams from 41 participating countries, including
France
Spain
Sri Lanka
Ukraine
Taiwan
India
Iran
United Arab Emirates
United Kingdom
United States of America
Uzbekistan
Vietnam
Pakistan.
And many others.
Since 2003 at least, the competition has been held for a consecutive 21 times except in 2020, due to the pandemic.
In 2024, the competition was held in Brasília, Brazil with 52 teams of 206 members from 36 participating countries.
What IOL aim to achieve
The annual competition aims to promote awareness and understanding of diverse cultures and histories. Participants are potential future linguistics experts, and the competition nurtures not just their interest in language but also contributes to the field of linguistics.
It also prepares students for careers in theoretical, mathematical and computational linguistics.
The competition also aims to;
Promote awareness of language, of the world’s linguistic diversity, and of the essence of linguistics among pre-university students and the general public.
Foster adolescents’ skills in logical thinking and the creative application of general knowledge in problem solving.
Acquaint students with the nature of the professions in the sciences and technologies of language and advertise these professions as a career choice.
Encourage friendly relations, international understanding and a spirit of sporting competitiveness between young people interested in linguistics from all countries.
Enhance the co-operation between teachers and experts involved in school linguistics and to motivate the launching of new linguistic contests worldwide.
Stimulate the development and growth of the genre of the self-sufficient linguistic problem
What IOL question looks like
The questions participants attempt to solve are not your regular school test.
Here is the one from last year:
Scary, right?
If you're just getting to know about the competition for the first time, the questions might appear unsolvable at first glance, but participants do eventually crack them within a neck-breaking six-hour duration.
No break. But refreshments will be provided.
How to participate
The Olympiad is held annually, traditionally between late July and mid-August.
The competition can be hosted by a country in one of its official language (s). The strong team of a country can proceed to participate at the international level of the competition.
In its revised regulations, the International Board states that teams seeking to participate for the first time are required to seek accreditation from the International Board. Accreditation can be sought at any time, but the deadline of January 1st must be met to guarantee participation in the next Olympiad.
The Board also notes that an accredited national association will have made arrangements for its contestants to be chosen in conformity with some eligibility requirements, which include publicity of the events, registration instructions, and so on.
The International Board strictly warns against organising the competition for financial gain.
Also, the Board states that contestants must be less than 20 years old on the first day of the competition, and must be pre-university students. Participating teams will consist of no more than four contestants and will be accompanied by a team leader.
Each accredited country is entitled to send one team whose accommodation and full board for the duration of the Olympiad, as well as participation in the social and cultural programme, is covered by the host.
Credits:
Hassana Samuel/Writer
Quadri Yahya/Editor
Amina Abdulganiyu/Contributor