Students test their wits in Linguistics Olympiad

Run by the ADAPT Centre and supported by Science Foundation Ireland, the contest challenges secondary school students to apply logic and reasoning skills to solve complex puzzles in unfamiliar languages. It is a key element of the nationwide Problem-Solving Initiative.

The All Ireland Linguistics Olympiad (AILO) challenges students to engage in ‘code-breaking’ to unlock information in unfamiliar languages, such as deciphering ancient Oriental scripts, decoding Armenian railway maps, or translating genealogical terms in Hawaiian. Previous knowledge of foreign languages or linguistics is not required, as the key requirements are logic, patience and reasoning skills.

28 pupils from Cookstown High School were among a record 4,000 students who competed in the qualifying round of the competition at their school. The pupils were unanimously positive about the opportunity to put their logic and problem-solving skills to a real life test!

The Cookstown sleuths were vying to secure a spot as one the top 100 decoders to qualify for the national final of the Olympiad. The results of the qualifying round were just released at the weekend and the school is proud to announce that two talented pupils, namely Bethany Greer Yr13 and Jordyn Carson Yr12, have qualified for the final, which will be hosted by Dublin Institute of Technology on March 24. The winners there will win the opportunity to represent Ireland at the International Linguistics Olympiad at Dublin City University in July 2017.