S1:2023
Welcome to our inaugural collection of "Featured Articles," showcasing the culmination of our team's efforts in multiple linguistics articles. We would like to share the beauty and complexity (but also just generally interesting and unique parts of language and culture, globally). Language has been undeniably present throughout history, acting as a catalyst during transformative events, and general cultural development. From the rhetoric of ancient philosophers shaping civilizations, to stirring speeches that ignited movements, language has proven its power to influence, inspire, and connect. And here we attempt to share its importance and appeal in various forms throughout this website.
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Teo's "Top 5 Made-Up/Pseudo Languages" details background information and facts I bet you didn't already know about some of the most famous (and obscure) made-up languages. From Tolkien's Elvish to Esperanto, he explores the imaginative landscapes where new languages make an appearance.
If you don't like Lords or Rings, then I'd suggest you read on to find about the meaning behind Minionese (this is actually true).
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- Teo Rybak
2
I doubt many of you have heard of La Gomera, and especially not its rather unorthodox language. Whilst we are accustomed to speaking in sentences with words, its actually rather common for older, tribal languages to make use of a wider range of sounds- you might even know of a language 'Khoisan' which utilises clicking to represent consonants. However, Silbo Gomero uses neither our conventional sentences nor the clicks of Khoisan...
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- Sana Ahmed
PUZZLES
This the cryptic language challenge inspired by the renowned decipherer Jean-François Champollion makes use of Ancient Egyptian hieroglyphics, inspired directly from the Rosetta stone- but you don't need to be a Historian or an Egyptian to solve this one!
Inspired by the linguistic phenomenon of "grue" and its ties to language philosophy (it's a little confusing- search it up if you're curious), this enigma challenges your perceptions of colour and meaning, except the puzzle is actually black and white... Go and check it out!
Taking inspiration from the comedy of Monty Python and the Holy Grail, this puzzle is likely closer to what you'd expect of a 'linguistics puzzle'- actually rather similar to some UK Linguistics Olympiad questions- why not have a look! The real puzzle though, is working out where the name came from since there aren't actually any Knights in the puzzle- just numbers, but don't worry you don't need to go past 100...
Word Radix
"Genuine"
This is the 'Word Radix' section- 'radix' meaning root. Each issue the word will change, so prepare to be surprised at how interlinked seemingly polar opposite languages really are. And finally, you'll learn some surprising things about the roots of these words- read on...
"Word of the issue"
4. It is thought that the link comes from a Roman tradition where fathers put their new-born babies on their knee- crazy, right...
1. The adjective 'genuine' is found in multiple romantic languages, like 'genuino' in Spanish and Italian. This leads us to believe that the word comes from Latin.
3. Therefore, many believe that the noun 'genu' became 'genuinus' in its adjectival form to mean 'natural', as the knee was a symbol of bringing new life
2. Interestingly, the root word 'genu' in Latin means 'knee', from which the French get their word 'genou'.
Welcome to Polyglot, a student linguistics magazine where writers from Kendrick and Reading School have collaborated together to share our love for languages and culture. At the heart of Polyglot lies a shared passion for language—an infectious curiosity that insists that we explore the complex world of linguistics. Our diverse team brings together an array of perspectives, creating a wide range of ideas that reflect the enormity of language and the cultures it embodies.
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Here I hope you'll discover a unique blend of linguistic insights, perhaps in the 'Word Radix' section where we consider the various stems and histories behind words, exploring how language evolves across different cultures and regions. It's an easy read with a focus on offering readers a deeper understanding of the interconnectedness of language, without the need to read an entire article.
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Or, perhaps you'd enjoy something more challenging- we bring a playful and interactive dimension to linguistics through our 'Puzzles' section. Above you can find some of the most famous linguistics puzzles- feel free to try any of them. Although they're 'linguistics puzzles' don't let the name mislead you- thinking of them as logic problems is likely more accurate. These puzzles require no prerequisite knowledge and are accessible for all age groups. If you enjoy logic puzzles, problem solving, scrabble or sudoku, there will absolutely be something there for you.
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Finally, I would like to give a huge thank you to everybody involved with the magazine- that includes all our writing team, editorial team and especially Miss Fondu (from the Reading School MFL department) who have sacrificed their time and put a great amount of effort into sharing this magazine with you. Thank you! I've very much enjoyed working on this project and I hope you all can find something that piques your interest here!
What is Polyglot?
Author's Note
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