The 12th International Linguistics Olympiad

Photo taken on July 21, 2014 shows people from around the world gathering at Beijing Language and Culture University this week for the International Linguistics Olympiad. [Photo: Xinhua]

Over 160 people from around the world are gathered at Beijing Language and Culture University this week for the International Linguistics Olympiad.

39 teams, representing 28 countries, including the US, Canada, Brasil, Russia and so on, are gathering in Beijing to test their minds against the world's toughest puzzles in language and linguistics.

Many of those young linguists have come to China for the first time and felt very excited to say hello in their own language.

According to the official website of the International Linguistics Olympiad, no prior knowledge of linguistics or languages is required for the competition. Even the hardest problems require only your logical ability, patient work, and willingness to think around corners.

A case in point would be the question topics from last year. In one of the tests, some words in Yidiny which is the language spoken by approx 150 people in the state of Queensland, Australia was provided, together with their English translation. Then the contestants are asked to translate a new Yidiny sentence into English based upon the above information.

Cao Qitong, a student from Nanjing Foreign Language School is with the Chinese team this year. He is quite confident on winning the competition.

"Actually, I'm very interested in linguistics. I started to learn linguistics by myself from elementary school. I think I gonna win."

The interest in linguistics is shared by other contestants.

For Alexander Babiak, who is from Ithaca High School, in New York State in the US, the competition in Beijing provides him a window to know more about China and its culture.

"This is my first time in China. I really like the country a lot honestly. The American culture, it seems very empty sometimes. In China, it's nice culture. I like it."

Dubbed the mini-United Nations, the Beijing Language and Culture University is known for its teaching in diverse foreign languages to students from home and abroad.

Cao Zhiyun, Vice President of the University hopes the world's biggest competition in linguistics can help enhance the communication among the high school students around the world.

"I hope that after this event, more people in the world can have a better understanding of the knowledge of linguistics. I hope that this event will be a bridge of our friendship and communication, linking different cultures and ideas."

This year's competition lasts until this Friday.