Indian Students Head to Brazil for International Linguistics Olympiad

The Indian National Team is on its way to Brazil to compete in the International Olympiad of Linguistics. This event tests students’ abilities to solve puzzles related to the grammar, structure, and history of various languages.

About the Olympiad

Manish Shrivastava, an assistant professor at IIIT Hyderabad, explained that the Olympiad is a two-decade-old event focusing on linguistic puzzles. Students from around the world participate in teams of four, with India sending two teams of four students each.

Selection Process

Students are chosen through the Panini Linguistics Olympiad held in India. Top performers from this national exam are selected to represent India at the International Olympiad.

Importance of Linguistics

Shrivastava emphasized the importance of linguistic diversity in AI development. Understanding multiple languages helps in creating better AI systems, especially in a diverse country like India.

Participants’ Experiences

Anshul Krishnadas Bhagwat, a student at IIIT Hyderabad, shared his excitement about the event and its role in advancing natural language processing and AI. Faraz Ahmed Siddiqui, a freshman at IIT Kanpur, highlighted the importance of linguistics in developing superior language models. Shri Laxmi, a first-time participant, found the Olympiad to offer a fresh perspective on human thinking and language. Dia from Bangalore, a second-time participant, appreciated the event for improving her problem-solving skills and opening new opportunities.

Support and Training

Raghava, an associate professor at IIIT Delhi, mentioned that the students undergo a workshop before flying out to the event. IIIT Delhi provides accommodation and training to help the students prepare.