The Linguist

32 The Linguist Vol/64 No/1 ciol.org.uk/thelinguist OPINION & COMMENT Multilingual city – London to NY The recent book by Ross Perlin, Language City (reviewed in TL63,3), traces the over 700 languages to be found in New York. It perhaps reflects the work of Multilingual Capital by Philip Baker and John Eversley, which first identified the 300 languages to be found in London in the year 2000. There was a follow-up volume in 2003 by Philip Baker and Jeehoon Kim entitled Global London. They are both still available to buy or order from bookshops. Tim Connell Hon FCIL I was surprised to read the article entitled 'A Classics combination' (TL63,4), which presents a combination of German and Latin at Oxford as a significant innovation. I can't speak for Oxford, but in Cambridge such combinations were routinely available when I was an undergraduate. French and Latin was the most popular of these but German and Latin would not have raised any eyebrows. Various combinations of Modern and Classical (even Oriental) languages were possible, even encouraged. What prevented many of them from being realised was the A-level requirement for Classical and 'major' European languages (French, German, Spanish, Italian, Russian). French, German and Latin was a common A-level combination but French, German and Greek was not, so German and Greek (unlike German and Latin) would have been a non-starter. Today, with the widespread abolition of the A-level requirement as a direct consequence of the decline in modern languages and Classics at secondary level, certain language combinations have become workable that formerly were not (so German and Greek is in with a chance). The question is: should we be welcoming this as a sign of progress? Peter Butler FCIL Not such an unusual combi? The 'League of the Lexicon' section of our 2024 quiz set readers a selection of multiple- choice questions from the game for language lovers. The winner, Pascal Virmoux-Jackson, receives the board game as a prize. The correct answers are highlighted in bold: 1 Which language has the longest alphabet? a) Khymer; b) Rotokas; c) Urdu. The Khymer alphabet has 72 letters, though only 68 are in use. Rotokas has the smallest alphabet in the world, with only 12 letters. 2 Who is the odd one out? a) Michael Caine; b) Lewis Carroll; c) Agatha Christie. Agatha Christie is the only name that isn't an alias. Lewis Carroll's proper name is Charles Dodgson and Michael Caine's is Maurice Joseph Micklewhite. 3 In the idiom 'flotsam and jetsam' what is 'jetsam'? a) Sea grass; b) Cooking waste; c) Items thrown overboard a ship. 4 Which word is not an eponym (i.e. named after a person)? a) Dunce; b) Magenta; c) Mausoleum. 'Magenta' is a toponym, i.e. named after a place (a town in Lombardy, Italy). 'Dunce' is named after Scottish theologian John Duns Scotus and 'mausoleum' after Mausolus (d. 353 BCE), governor of Caria. Quiz winner: League of the Lexicon What began as a light-hearted competition inspired by CIOL Vice-President Jean Coussins (pictured) is culminating in a celebration of linguistic creativity, as the Chartered Institute of Linguists (CIOL) reveals our Top 10 collective nouns for linguists. The contest, launched last summer, invited CIOL members, the wider public and readers of The Linguist to propose a collective noun which would aptly describe language professionals. "This is all about fun – but with a serious message too," said Baroness Coussins when launching the initiative. "Creativity, wit and wordplay are skills that linguists have in abundance, thanks to our exposure to other languages and cultures." The competition aims to create a term worthy of joining the pantheon of memorable collective nouns in the English language, placing linguists alongside such classics as the Parliament of Owls and the Shrewdness of Apes, while avoiding the Pandemonium of Parrots! After deliberation by CIOL's Awards & Recognition Committee, Council and Educational Trust Board, a shortlist has been chosen from well over 40 entries. In alphabetical order these are: An alphabet of linguists A babble of linguists A Babel of linguists A chatter of linguists A glory of linguists A glot of linguists A lexicon of linguists A library of linguists A polyphony of linguists A symphony of linguists Notable other entries that just missed the cut include a 'thesaurus', 'glossary' and 'confabulation' of linguists. With so many great entries, CIOL CEO John Worne noted: "The Top 10 reflects a wonderful blend of mutual appreciation, creativity and linguistic playfulness. Each noun captures something unique about the collaborative nature of working in languages, while also celebrating the joy we find in languages themselves." The final winner will be selected in consultation with Baroness Coussins and announced at the CIOL Awards in March. Comp for language lovers

• Cover