United Kingdom Linguistics Olympiad

Last updated
United Kingdom Linguistics Olympiad
GenreLinguistics Olympiad
FrequencyAnnual
VenueNationwide
CountryUnited Kingdom
Inaugurated2010
Participantsc.5000 [1]
Patron(s)Christine Ohuruogu
Website www.uklo.org

The United Kingdom Linguistics Olympiad (UKLO) is a linguistics competition for primary and secondary school students in the United Kingdom. [2] [3] The competition is divided into four levels: Breakthrough, Foundation, Intermediate and Advanced, collectively known as 'Round 1', with the top-scoring 5% of entrants at Advanced level (formerly the top 16 entrants) eligible for a follow-on round, called 'Round 2' [4] and selection for participation in the International Linguistics Olympiad, one of the international science olympiads. In 2009, teams from two schools competed in a pilot competition, with the winners taking part in the international contest as guests of the All-Ireland Linguistics Olympiad. In 2010, an independent olympiad was created and has taken place every year since.

Contents

History

Problem-solving competitions in linguistics for secondary school students have been taking place around the world since the 1960s. In Russia, the Moscow and St Petersburg Linguistic Olympiads are credited with inspiring hundreds of young talented scholars to choose linguistics as an academic major and profession. Currently there are national contests within Europe, North and South America, Africa, Asia and Australia. There is also an International Linguistics Olympiad in which students from many countries compete, which began in 2003, and was first hosted by Bulgaria.

In 2009, two UK schools, the Manchester Grammar School and Downlands Community School, took part as guests in the Irish competition, and the winning team represented the UK at the International Olympiad. This triggered the foundation of a permanent committee for the UK Linguistics Olympiad, and the creation of a consortium of olympiads held in English-speaking countries, ELCLO, as a means for pooling resources with NACLO, AILO and OzCLO, the American, Irish and Australian Linguistics Olympiads respectively. The UKLO committee is chaired by Dick Hudson, with Neil Sheldon serving as vice-chair.

In 2010, 560 students from 28 schools entered, 223 at Foundation, and 337 at Advanced level. In 2011, 1165 entries were received from 49 schools, 349 at Foundation, and 816 at Advanced level. 2012 saw the introduction of the Intermediate level, with 1912 entries from 300 schools, 432 at Foundation, 498 at Intermediate and 982 at Advanced level. 2013 saw total entries number 2878, with 1069 at Foundation, 643 at Intermediate and 1166 at Advanced level. In 2015, a new, lowest entry level was introduced, called Breakthrough, with 96 entrants. By 2018, the numbers had increased to 220 in Breakthrough, 1042 at Foundation, 970 at Intermediate and 1650 at Advanced.

The Olympiad has sponsorship and support from various organisations including the British Academy, [5] The Linguistics Association of Great Britain, The British Association for Applied Linguistics, The Philological Society, Routes into Languages, [6] The School of English Literature, Language and Linguistics, University of Sheffield and The School of Philosophy, Psychology & Language Sciences, University of Edinburgh.

The Olympiad has received coverage in the first and second issues of Babel magazine, [7] as well as in the Francophonie journal [8] and Attain magazine. [9] Olympic athlete Christine Ohuruogu MBE is the patron of UKLO, having completed a Linguistics degree at University College London. [10]

The UK has sent a delegation to the International Linguistics Olympiad (IOL) every year since 2009, and has competed in 14 olympiads. They have sent 88 participants in 22 teams, selected through UKLO. In competition, teams from the UK have brought home 44 medals (15 gold, 14 silver and 15 bronze), 5 team trophies (2 gold and 3 bronze), 1 first-place team cup, 5 best solution prizes, 17 honourable mentions, and 1 team contest honourable mention. In addition, the UK has sent 7 Repeat Medalists and 4 Dream Teams to the Hall of Fame. [11] The UK Linguistics Olympiad was the host for the 2013 IOL, held at the Manchester Grammar School and chaired by Neil Sheldon. The competition in Manchester was featured on an edition of BBC Radio Four's Word of Mouth programme centring on language games. [12]

Format

The competition is divided into two rounds. Round 1 is open to all secondary school pupils, while Round 2 is invitation only.

10 linguistic data problems are posed in each year's Round 1 papers, with the Breakthrough paper being 1–3, Foundation 2–5, Intermediate 4–7, and Advanced 6–10. The intention is that each problem is harder than the previous. At Breakthrough, Foundation and Intermediate levels, participants may enter either individually or as part of a group of 2-4 students, and timings and conditions can be decided by schools. At the Advanced level, the competition must take the format of an individual, 2.5 hour test sat under controlled conditions. Certificates are awarded for top-scorers at each level, with the top 5% receiving Gold certificates, the next 10% Silver, and the next 20% Bronze. [13]

As of 2022, winners of a Gold certificate at the Advanced level are invited to participate in Round 2. This is a 3.5 hour paper posing five more problems, some of which require written explanations. High-scoring students again receive certificates, with the top 25% receiving a Distinction, and the next 25% receiving a Merit. About twelve competitors are invited to attend a training camp at a host university, where eight competitors in two teams are selected to participate in the International Linguistics Olympiad and represent the UK. [14] Selection is based mostly on performance in the Round 2 paper and the camp, but past performances at IOL and Round 2 are taken into account. Previously, 1 roughly 16 of the top scorers from the Advanced paper were invited to participate in Round 2, which took the form of a residential training weekend at a host university, [15] [16] followed by the exam.

IOL Teams

Since 2009, the UK has sent teams annually to the IOL.

IOL 2009

2009 - Wrocław , Poland [17] [18]
TeamNameAward
GBBen Callerbronze medal
Adam King
Ben Miller
Alex Sheppard

Team Leader: Neil Sheldon

IOL 2010

2010 - Stockholm , Sweden [19] [20]
TeamNameAward
1Craig Bohrsonhonourable mention
Alison Coxon
Imogen Nelson
Younus Porteousbronze medal
2Helen Hambling
Sarah O'Keeffe
Carl Rietschelhonourable mention
Nathan Somersbest solution to question 5

Team Leader: Neil Sheldon

IOL 2011

2011 - Pittsburgh , USA [21] [22]
TeamNameAward
UKPiotr Gałuszkahonourable mention
Jessica Hao
Jake Lishman
Nik Moorebronze medal

Team Leader: Neil Sheldon

IOL 2012

2012 - Ljubljana , Slovenia [23]
TeamNameAward
UKMelanie Duncanbronze medal
Omri Faraggibronze medal
Baichuan Libronze medal
Tom Whitesilver medal

Team Leader: Neil Sheldon

Note: This team was entered into the IOL Hall of Fame as a "Dream Team" because all members of the team received a medal. [24]

IOL 2013

2013 - Manchester , UK [25] [26]
TeamNameAward
NorthOmri Faraggisilver medal
Harry Goodhewhonourable mention
Sam Heath
Neema Kotonyahonourable mention
SouthDaniel Pitthonourable mention
Oliver Sayeed
Theo Tindallhonourable mention
Elysia Warnerhonourable mention

Team Leaders: Neil Sheldon and Nathan Somers

IOL 2014

2014 - Beijing , China [27] [28]
TeamNameAward
UKAlastair Carrhonourable mention
Jack Hodkinson
Oliver Sayeed
Elysia Warnergold medal

Team Leader: Neil Sheldon

IOL 2015

2015 - Blagoevgrad , Bulgaria [29]
TeamNameAwardTeam Award
EastSamuel Ahmedgold medal, 2nd place individual
Samuel Hosegood
Naomi Solomonsbronze medal
Isobel Voyseyhonourable mention
WestAnthony Braceysilver medalgold trophy
Liam McKnightgold medal
Harry Taylorhonourable mention
Stephanie Wonghonourable mention

Team Leader: Neil Sheldon

IOL 2016

2016 - Mysore , India [30]
TeamNameAwardTeam Award
UKSamuel Ahmedgold medalbronze trophy
Zeki Dolen
Liam McKnightgold medal, 3rd place individual, best solution to question 1
Isobel Voyseybronze medal

Team Leader: Neil Sheldon

IOL 2017

2017 - Dublin , Ireland [31]
TeamNameAwardTeam Award
Team KSamuel Ahmedgold medal, 1st place individualhighest combined individual scores
Simeon Hellstengold medal
Kamran Sharifi
Harry Taylorsilver medal
Team UBenjamin Liow
Liam McKnightgold medal, 3rd place individual
Ben Morrissilver medal
Alfie Vaughan

Team Leaders: Neil Sheldon and Elysia Warner

IOL 2018

2018 - Prague , Czechia [32]
TeamNameAwardTeam Award
Team UEleanor Edwardsbronze trophy
Edmund Leabronze medal
Selina Wang
Sean Whitebronze medal, best solution to question 3
Team KSimeon Hellstensilver medal"dream team"
Liam McKnightgold medal, 2nd place individual
Hari Prasadbronze medal
Benedict Randall Shawgold medal

Team Leaders: Neil Sheldon and Elysia Warner

IOL 2019

2019 - Yongin , South Korea [33]
TeamNameAwardTeam Award
Team USam Cornergold medal"dream team"
Kilian Meissnerbronze medal
Harrison Mooresilver medal
Alex Walkerbronze medal
Team KTommaso Leonardi
Simeon Hellstengold medal
Daniel Turaevsilver medal
Benedict Randall Shawgold medal

Team Leaders: Neil Sheldon and Graeme Trousdale

IOL 2020

The IOL competition in 2020 was postponed until 2021 due to the COVID-19 pandemic. However, the UK still selected a squad of eight, consisting of Adrian Sahani, Benedict Randall Shaw, Hari Prasad, Kilian Meissner, Robbie Bennett, Sam Corner, Simeon Hellsten, and Soren Choi. [34]

IOL 2021

2021 - Ventspils , Latvia [35]
TeamNameAwardTeam Award
Team UAlex Robsonhonourable mention, best solution to problem 4honourable mention
Barnaby Colvin
Harrison Moorehonourable mention
Toby Westonhonourable mention
Team KAanya Goyalhonourable mention
Keira Cumming
Toby Collinsbronze medal
Xane Miles

Team Leaders: Neil Sheldon and Graeme Trousdale

IOL 2022

2022 - Castletown , Isle of Man [36]
TeamNameAwardTeam Award
Team UAlison Craig-Greenegold medal, 3rd place individual
Brendan Bethlehemhonourable mention
George Zhousilver medal
Raka Chattopadhyay
Team KAlex Thompsonbronze trophy
Stratos Voudourissilver medal
Toby Collinssilver medal
William Thomsonsilver medal, best solution to problem 3

Team Leaders: Neil Sheldon and Graeme Trousdale


IOL 2023

2023 - Bansko , Bulgaria [37]
TeamNameAwardTeam Award
UKLuke Borrelbronze medaldream team, gold trophy
Alison Craig-Greenesilver medal
William Thomsongold medal
Daniel Titmassilver medal

Team Leader: Graeme Trousdale. Observer: Simeon Hellsten

Notes

1. ^ In 2021, the squad of 8 were selected from R2, and a planned training camp was cancelled due to the COVID-19 pandemic.

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