The Polyglot - Issue 5

POLYGLOT

WHY DID COLOMBIA VOTE NO? ALSO INCLUDES:

UNDERSTANDING LIFE IN SYRIA

THE LEGACY OF RIO 2016

LEGALISATION OF CANNABIS

Editorial As the world becomes ever more insular, nationalist and extremist, internationalism has never been more important. And that is exactly what The Polyglot is: an insight into cultures and current affairs from across the Globe that we would normally not come across. In this issue, we have an exceptional range of articles, commenting on the Olympic games, the delicate political situation in Colombia, life in Syria and a debate on the legalisation of marihuana.

Whether you study one or multiple languages, at A level or lower, or simply have an interest to firmly remain a citizen of the world, The Polyglot provides you with easily-digestible pieces targeted at all audiences.

This accessibility is something we pride ourselves on, and I hope that you can find something that captures your imagination, and causes you to think outside of the Anglo-centric bubble that we live in. Naturally, this would not be possible without the hard work of the team of writers who have put this issue together, and I would especially like to thank Miss Engel-Hart and Blake Jones for all their help.

- George Jeffreys, Editor-in-Chief

conflict

legacy guerilla drugs

instinct warmth wheel

beer create

interview

ĂŠchange football

twister

recipe

The Syrian Struggle Qasim Naqvi investigates the different trials of won’t get signal as phone towers have been destroyed. This therethe current situation in Syria

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he conflict in Syria began on March 15, 2011 when the Syrian government met peaceful protesters in different cities and answered the protests with violence. After a while the people who opposed the government managed to acquire their own weapons. This was quite obviously a recipe for disaster. This then led to a very tense civil war and dragged other countries into the area. It is estimated that around 470,000 people have been killed (this number varies from source to source) in this whole conflict.

Furthermore, it is said that ap-

fore, means that communication proximately 7.6 million have is virtually impossible. In addibeen displaced internally. tion, people in Syria only go out if they need to. They do not go What it would be like liv- out for pleasure or fun, unlike ing there? in other countries. Employment In Syria 83% of the country’s rates in Syria have also been eselectricity supplies have been timated at over 50%, this is up cut; try living in a country that from 14% in 2011. has virtually no electricity. In Aleppo, some people use solar Food panels which are worth $250. Approximately 70% of the popThis might not sound like all that ulation and are unable to semuch to us but for an average cure basic food needs. This has family that earn $150 a month been worsened by the farming it is a perilous ordeal. However, industry which used to be a real even after this there are prob- driving force for the country but lems, once you have charged now it has been affected badly your phone, it will be almost use- by the conflict in different reless as it is most likely that you gions. These areas now have

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high levels of food insecurity which means that they don’t have a sufficient and reliable access to affordable and nutritious food.

Bread is very important to the Arab world and before the war Syria subsidised it and other food in hope for the support of the people. However, after losing areas that produce wheat, those subsidies were reduced by the government and the price of bread has rocketed. In Dheir al-Zhour (East Syria) the percentage change from pre-war to 2016 has gone +6,500%.

However, in Regime-held areas bread prices have gone up +230%. The average price for 1 litre of milk in Syria is £0.55.

Problem? Where’s the problem? In the first few months of the crisis in Syria, the country’s median wage was around 12,000 Syrian pounds, around

$255 at the official exchange rates at the time. The minimum wage was SYP 9,975 ($212) The average rate of consumption for Syrian families, based on estimates in some districts according to the Central Administration of Statistics, ranged between SYP 31,500 ($670) and SYP 42,000 ($890). Even then, questions were being raised about citizens’ ability to secure their most basic needs.

Today, the median salary is less than (Syrian Pound) 16,000 ($150 at current rates). Some estimates put it between SYP 13,000 ($277) and SYP 13,500 ($287). However, the cost of basic goods has soared by more than 300 percent. A family of five now has to make three times what it used to before the crisis, needing a monthly fixed salary between SYP 95,000 ($905) and SYP 126,000 ($1,200) to

sustain its basic needs. Eighty percent of Syrians do not make more than SYP 30,000 ($286) This therefore, creates a huge problem that just under 19 million of the 22.85 million that live in Syria.

Numbers The UN estimate around 470,000 people have been killed.

7.6 million displaced 3.9 million fled country Why are they fleeing?

Half the country’s population (pre-war) have been killed or have been forced to leave their homes. 13.5 million people are in need of humanitarian assistance. Humanitarian assistance is a short term aid which is to save lives and is logistical help.

For this amount of people to need this is simply staggering.

Rio 2016 ¿Un éxito o un fracaso?

Fergus Fishburn debates the effects and legacy of Rio 2016

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os primeros Juegos Olímpicos en Latinoamérica fueron un éxito en términos deportivos. Se consiguieron más de cien récords mundiales, incluso en la carrera de 400m en hombres y muchos en la piscina. Los rendimientos en gimnasia, natación y en pista fueron inolvidables. El legado de Michael Phelps y Usain Bolt perdurará para siempre. Sin embargo, ¿qué pasa con el legado de los Juegos Olímpicos de Río?

Bajo la imagen del Cristo Redentor, con el Estadio de Maracaná lleno, Neymar ganó la medalla de oro para Brasil, salvando al equipo una vez más.

Brasil demostró al mundo que puede ser anfitrión de una competición enorme. Por un momen-

¿Qué pasa con el legado de los Juegos Olímpicos de Río? to, Brasil fue un país unido.

Pero este país unido tiene problemas medioambientales, sociales y políticos. En efecto, los “Juegos Verdes” tuvieron lugar en un país que, al mismo tiempo, estaba talando los pulmones del mundo. El mensaje fue perfecto pero la pregunta es: ¿será escuchado?

En otras palabras, muchas personas consideraban que los Juegos Olímpicos estaban condenados a fracasar en un país tan relajante y lleno de vida como vimos en la ceremonia de clausura. Esto se debe, posiblemente, a la corrupción de la presidenta de Brasil en el momento de conseguir la candidatura para ser sede de los Juegos Olímpicos. Por

lo tanto en Brasil, como antes de la Copa del Mundo, hubo agitadas revueltas y disturbios en las calles, además de un presidente temporal que tomó el control.

También Brasil tiene grandes problemas sociales. Hubo y hay todavía mucho racismo en este gran país multicultural. Las Favelas siguen controladas por bandas, aunque han mejorado con respecto a 1990. Por ejemplo, la Favela Barrio está cada vez mejor gracias a las ayudas del gobierno, tal y como demostró con orgullo Cidade de Deus. La violencia que ha sufrido la ciudad se ha detenido por los Juegos pero, ¿solo por los Juegos?

Finalmente, el único problema del que el mundo se dio cuenta

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fue el de las sillas vacías (y la piscina verde, pero que fue gracioso). Las sillas vacías, de acuerdo con la prensa, se explica por la pobreza en Brasil. Hay una gran diferencia entre ricos y pobres.

La Copacabana está empañada por las Favelas de las montañas.

Es un problema complicado y todavía no ha sido resuelto. Brasil, siendo un país económicamente desastroso, pagó por los Juegos.

Por lo tanto ¿por qué los comparamos con los Juegos de Londres?

En general, creo que Rio 2016 fue un éxito porque no fue un fracaso. Me vienen buenos recuerdos como el ambiente en el Maracaná o el voleibol playa.

Fue diferente, nuevo y emocionante. Los estadios se llenaron y ¡no se cayeron! El único criminal que vi fue Ryan Lochte y su banda de hermanos estúpidos. No hubo terrorismo o disturbios. De hecho, los brasileños dieron la bienvenida a los turistas en la ciudad más bonita del mundo. Brasil tuvo éxito también en las medallas, pero no pienso que éstas sean razones suficientes para ser de nuevo sede de otros Juegos Olímpicos del mundo, al menos ¡durante un tiempo!

Glossary:

los rendimientos: performances perdurar: to last salvar: to save el anfitrión: host talar: to cut down

los condenados: convicts el sede: HQ agitado: seething vacío/a: empty la prensa: press empeñarse: to pledge

Colombia’s End to a Life of Crime?

Fergus Fishburn questions Colombia’s response

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n the picturesque mountains above Medellín, clouds hug the vast rainforests. Below in Medellín - a city infamous for its drug cartel run by the Ochoa brothers, José Gacha and Pablo Escobar - FARC rebels observe a ceasefire as they await an infamous peace treaty. The signing of the treaty between President Juan Manuel Santos and the Revolutionary Armed Forces of Colombia could end a war that has cost a quarter of a million lives and plagued Colombia since 1992.

Colombia’s recent bloody history can be split into two distinct halves, one largely centred in the North and the other predominantly towards the South.

In 1990 Colombia was at war

with the largest cocaine trafficking business the world has ever seen. In 1990 the Medellín Cartel, alongside their rivals the Cali cartel, controlled 80% of the world’s Cocaine. Medellín became the capital of crime in the world with 6,349 killings in two years. This prompted the famous songs by Juan Estaban in protest which reached number one all round the world. On average 380 per 100,000 people would lose their lives between 1990 and 1992. Narcoterrorism and the war on drugs started by George Bush were at fault for Pablo Escobar ravaging and destroying all. But in 1992 Escobar was killed and, after hundreds of government officials and ordinary citizens alike were assassinated, Medellín began to rebrand itself.

Since 1992 Colombia and Medellín especially have rediscovered their country, experi-

Colombia vote 50.2% against a peace deal encing the development seen all round the world. Medellín is now said to be the model of social integration, with a lower crime and unemployment ratio than American cities such as Baltimore and New Orleans as well as some areas of New York and Los Angeles. A cable car system that is most well known in the Favelas of Rio de Janeiro links the poorer hilltop favelas to the city centre. Favelas once ruled by drug kingpins are now

seeing huge redevelopment on par with Stratford in London.

However this wasn’t an easy transition. Up until 1996 the Cali Cartel dominated cocaine traffic in the Andean region, controlling almost 80% of cocaine supply in the world. They have remained strong but a lot more peaceful than their rivals.

In 2012 6 drug barons of the Cali cartel were arrested in Venezuala, potentially signalling the end of the ‘Narcos’ in Colombia.

As Colombia, America and the world watched and Narcoterrorism decimated the country, a revolutionary left wing paramilitary group named FARC rebuilt themselves in the rural jungle of the South. In 1992, while Colombia was reaching the turning point in the war against the Narcos, they came up from the jungle rejuvenated and with huge force. After Escobar’s death the FARC leaders replaced the Medellín Cartel as drug kingpins. This trafficking gave them a steady income which would prove pivotal in

the next 24 years. In 1994 Colombia entered its darkest year, with the Cali Cartel rising to expand to the levels of the Medellín cartel before them as well as FARC becoming more violent and powerful. This was compounded when the world took notice as Andrés Escobar was assassinated for scoring an own goal in the World Cup. However 22 years later Colombia is entering its final chapter in a bloody storytale. FARC started a war of appalling savagery that displaced millions, killing 220,000 in a country already fatigued by violence.

As Juan Carlos Carpacho, a municipal councillor described, the violence has destroyed generations. He portrayed the toll on his family. His father was shot dead for refusing to pay protection to guerrillas and his uncle was burned alive after both his legs were chopped off with machetes… Journalists have been captured in the North Eastern region controlled by the rebels where their coca crops are centred. But in Cartagena a balmy Carribean town, the centrepiece of Colombian tourism and development, a peace deal was signed on the 26th September between the FARC leader and the Colombian president. It just needed approval by the Colombian people.

Colombia has developed around a civil war that hasn’t

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stopped for rest bite since the mid 1980’s but the country recently had the chance to break free of the shackles which have strangled the nation. However the first key opportunity favoured war due to the fact that on the 2nd October the Colombian people voted No to the treaty. However, peace is still on the horizon as FARC insist they will become a political party. 50.2% of voters voted NO however only 40% of the population voted; a serious kick in the gut for the government; as you can see from the photo the country was completely split.

For example Antioquia voted NO for the reason reason that they believed it would let people on both sides get away with murder. Despite that, in Bojaya, where 119 people were killed by a mortar hitting a church, 96% voted in favour (YES).

Juan Manuel Santos’ search for peace, that has seen him get the Nobel Peace prize, is on the horizon though as he has come to a revised agreement with the FARC - this time asking for approval from congress, not from the public.

THE LANGUAGE INSTINCT Ben Wilson and Johnny Lloyd wonder if our brain give us our language ability instinctively or not?

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t’s a matter of philosophical debate whether the language we speak affects how we perceive the world. It’s a matter of scientific consensus that language has driven the rapid development of our brains and the intelligence of humans as a species. Neither of these subjects, interesting though they may be, are the topic of this article. Here, we will discuss how our brains affect the formation of our language.

Children rapidly grasp the complex art of speaking coherently, long before they learn to read or write. They learn their spoken language in a known pattern, seemingly entirely from hearing their parents and others around them speak - learning the patterns and imitating them.

There is little doubt that words are learned by imitation, or that reading and writing are learned skills that take much time and concentration. However, the learning of the underlying rules of language is subject to much controversy.

There are two main hypotheses about the learning of language itself.

One was originally put forward by Noam Chomsky in the 1960s: That everyone is born with a ‘language instinct’ or a region of the brain specif-

ically dedicated to learning the rules of grammar, which easily slots grammatical rules into place, allowing us to learn much more easily than otherwise.

This has been diluted with time, from a concept of a specific ‘grammar organ’ to simply acknowledging that the rules underlying languages, rather than being entirely learnt through trial and error, are to some extent natural to all humans. The other hypothesis is, well, the opposite.

There is some compelling evidence for the former. In Hawaii, a group of many adults created a pidgin language for communication between English-speaking residents and non-English speakers Native Hawaiians., incorporating elements from multiple other languages in a grammarless language - in which it was easy to communicate simple ideas but anything complex was virtually impossible to represent. As observed by Derek Bickerton, with the second generation of these people came a complete change in the language. By the time their children grew up, the language had been converted to a creole: A fully functional (if patchworked) language, with all of the common rules of grammar. A similar phenomenon has been observed in the creation of many other creoles. They arise from the chil-

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Is grammar an instinct that was shaped and developed by language, but itself does the shaping today?

dren of second-language pidgin speakers, and share more grammatical similarity with one another than the language from which they are derived.

Interestingly, those not exposed to language during the development of the brain - from 20 months to 13 years, specifically - can’t seem to grasp grammar at all. This is particularly evident in the disturbing case of Genie, a girl brought up in Los Angeles by an abusive father who was only rescued from the single room in which she lived once she was 13. This shows that the brain must be exposed to language during its development - or that children need to practice communication

with others in order to develop the language-processing section of the brain - and that it matures at a young age.

However, an adult can easily learn the words and rules of a language and fit them together; it simply never becomes the same second nature. SLI - Specific Language Impairment - victims experience the same phenomenon: They can store words in their memory and recall them easily, but are unable to grasp simple grammatical concept, such as pluralisation. For example, they would store “sausage” and “sausages” as unique, separate words, unable to construct one from the other.

Regardless, the concept of a

rapidly-maturing brain region that can process words and logically link them with grammatical rules is not completely sound.

It is known that older children who lose their hearing gradually lose their ability to form words properly. This may show that grammar or language processing is not static once developed, or at least, can degrade.

Still, it is an interesting concept worth thinking about: Is grammar an instinct that was shaped and developed by language, but itself does the shaping today? Or does every child start anew, manually processing huge datasets and deriving rules of grammar and inflection better than any artificial intelligence today?

La Legalización A Favor Joe Curtis argues for marihuana legalisation

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ersonalmente, creo que deberíamos legalizar la marihuana.

En primer lugar, mucha gente piensa que esta droga es verdaderamente peligrosa. Sin embargo, esto no es verdad. Por ejemplo, hay 0 muertes por consumo de marihuana a diferencia de algunas drogas legales, tal como el alcohol, que es responsable de 2.3 millones de muertes, además del tabaco, que es también la causa de muchas muertes. Por lo tanto, si el alcohol es legal, no entiendo por qué el cannabis no puede ser legal también.

Segundo, la droga sería más segura si fuera legal, porque habría menos posibilidad de que el cannabis estuviera contaminado con otras sustancias ya que

podríamos controlar su composición y calidad. Ahora, cuando uno compra el cannabis en la calle, la droga puede haber sido contaminada por los narcotraficantes con sustancias muy peligrosas; esto se puede prevenir simplemente con la legalización de la droga.

Por añadidura, la legalización de la marihuana podría reducir los peligros en la calle porque podríamos comprarla en tiendas y por lo tanto no se tendría que conseguir en la calle a través de traficantes. El hecho de que la gente comprara la droga en una tienda ayudaría también a la economía, ya que el gobierno podría gravar la marihuana. Ese dinero, el gobierno podría entonces gastarlo en cosas que beneficiaran a la sociedad. Por ejemplo, en la educación y especialmente en campañas que informaran sobre el abuso de drogas o también en

hospitales y concretamente en la rehabilitación de drogadictos.

Hay que añadir que, sorprendentemente, el cannabis se usa como medicamento para aliviar a pacientes de cáncer. Es el caso de los Estados Unidos, donde se utiliza como un medicamento frecuentemente. Es más, aunque es todavía ilegal en muchos partes del mundo, hay una sorprendente cantidad de personas que han probado esta droga. Por ejemplo, una de cada dos personas en los EEUU han dicho que lo han tomado; es una práctica normal y social para mucha gente y por lo tanto la droga debe ser legalizada. Finalmente, muchos países ya han legalizado el cannabis y han tenido éxito, como en Portugal y en algunas partes de los Estados Unidos, entonces no veo por qué muchos otros países no la han legalizado también, por ejemplo el Reino Unido.

del Cannabis

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En Contra Alex Ling explains why the legalisation of cannabis might be a mistake.

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hora, en la mayoría de los países del mundo no se permite el uso de marihuana, pero hay algunas excepciones como Holanda y México.

En mi opinión, creo que esta legalización no puede ser positiva para toda la sociedad.

En primer lugar, si legalizáramos esta droga, aumentaría su consumo en la población y, en consecuencia, incrementaría el número de personas que desarrollarían una adicción a la marihuana.

Podría ser malo para el drogadicto porque malgastaría su dinero en cosas inútiles, y por

eso, sus allegados (hijos, familia etc…) sufrirían, y no podrían llevar una vida normal.

Los adictos no vivirían a sus potenciales máximas en su vida profesional, y no utilizarían el dinero para la mejora de la sociedad.

Por añadidura, la marihuana es un factor de riesgo para las enfermedades mentales, incluyendo la esquizofrenia.

Si los adolescentes consumieran más cannabis , su crecimiento se vería afectado por los efectos que tiene la droga en su cerebro. Los adolescentes no podrían involucrarse en la vida de otros jóvenes por sus dificultades con las enfermedades mentales que tendrían , lo que significa que los jóvenes no conocerían lo más importante de la juventud, que es la amistad.

Otro factor para no legalizar

esta droga es que disminuye la percepción de riesgo de las personas que la utilizan. Cuando toman la droga, les da una falsa confianza, y sienten como si pudieran hacerlo todo, y así que, ponen las vidas de los consumidores en peligro, porque intentan unas cosas imposibles.

Es un lado negativo a la droga porque genera personas diferentes, y crea un peligro que no había antes.

En conclusión, pienso que esta droga no debe ser legalizada porque, a pesar de que tiene algunas ventajas, las desventajas como los efectos en la salud mental no serían experimentadas sin la legalización de marihuana. También ahora, nuestra sociedad no tiene problemas que puedan ser resueltos por las drogas, `así que no puedo ver el sentido de legalizarla.

hristmas in Europe Christmas takes many forms throughout the world, and each country has their own quirks. Mrs Engel-Hart, Angus Blomfield and Felipe Jin Li tell us about Christmas traditions in Germany, France and Spain.

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s en pleno mes de noviembre, cuando comenzamos a apreciar el espíritu navideño en España a través de las decoraciones coloridas en las vitrinas de las tiendas y a través del anuncio televisivo anual de la Lotería de Navidad.

A finales del mes, la gente empieza a realizar las típicas decoraciones navideñas en casa como las coronas navideñas, las decoraciones del árbol navideño, y particularmente, el famoso Belén – una réplica plástica que representa el nacimiento de Jesucristo en el 25 de diciembre. Un Belén puede ser desde una réplica sencilla

del niño Jesús en el pesebre juntos a sus padres – José y María – hasta increíbles obras de arte que incluyen todo tipo de detalles más allá del nacimiento: la ciudad de Belén.

Aunque muchas de las tradiciones navideñas en España son muy similares a las del resto de Europa en cuanto a la cena navideña, reuniones familiares y regalos, yo creo que la gastronomía navideña en España es exquisita. Los deliciosos postres y dulces navideños, como el famoso turrón de Jijona y los polvorones son lo mejor de las navidades españolas; delicias que no podras encontrar en ninguna otra parte del mundo.

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ne célébration de Noël traditionnelle qui remonte quelques siècles dans la région de la Provence oú j’habitais dans mon enfance, les “treize desserts” rassemblant Jésus Christ et les douze apôtres. Ils sont servis après “Le Gros Souper” à la veille de Noël et, bien que d’une région à l’autre, la composition des treize desserts varie, généralement ils se composent de: nougats, pompe á l’huile, les noix ou Noisettes, figues sèches, amandes et raisins secs, dattes, focaccia, fruits confits, Gibassier (pâtisserie Provençale), pulpe de fruits, calissons (confiserie Provençales ), les pommes, poires, du melon vert et vin cuit.

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an könnte denken, dass We i h n a c h t e n in Deutschland bereits im September beginnt, denn dann gibt es Lebkuchen im Supermarkt. Lebkuchen und Plätzchen sind sehr wichtig in der Vorweihnachtszeit in Deutschland. Fast jede Familie backt Plätzchen, die man in den Wochen vor Weihnachten und an Heiligabend isst.

Heiligabend, der 24. Dezember, ist das größte Fest. Familien treffen sich meistens am Nachmittag, schmücken dann den Weihnachtsbaum und essen schließlich zusammen zu Abend. Einfache Mahlzeiten

wie Würstchen mit Sauerkraut oder Linseneintopf sind typische Weihnachtsessen. Ein aufwendigeres Mahl gibt es am 1. Weihnachtsfeiertag, dem 25.12., zum Beispiel einen Gänsebraten. Gläubige Christen gehen am Heiligabend in den Gottesdienst, entweder am frühen Abend, oder an Mitternacht. Beliebte Weihnachtslieder sind zum Beispiel Stille Nacht, heilige Nacht, das in Österreich komponiert wurde und UNESCO Weltkulturerbe ist, und Ihr Kinderlein Kommet oder Tochter Zion - eine Melodie, die man in England nicht an Weihnachten sondern an Ostern hört! Frohe Weihnachten, alle zusammen!

Glossary:

a través de: through el anuncio televisivo: TV spot el árbol navideño: Christmas tree remonter: `here: to go back rassemblant: resembling l’apôtre: apostle la veille: the evening before el belén: Nativity scene el pesebre: crib bereits: already der Lebkuchen: ginger bread das Plätzchen: biscuit der Heiligabend: Christmas Eve schmücken: decorate schließlich: finally das Würstchen: sausage aufwendig: extravagant gläubig: religious

RHÖNRADTURNEN:

ein Sport aus Deutschland

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tto Feick ist der Sohn von einem Schmied.

Er wohnt in der Rhön, in einer hügeligen Region in Deutschland.

Als Kind rollt er in einem großen Reifen Hügel hinunter. Er hat die Idee für das Rhönrad! Er kreiert das Rhönrad 1928.

Jetzt ist Rhönradturnen ein komplizierter Sport mit vielen Regeln und drei Disziplinen.

OKTOBERFEST

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as “Oktoberfest” ist ein Volksfest und findet jedes Jahr in München statt, von Mitte September bis zum ersten Wochenende im Oktober.

Etwa 6 Millionen Leute besuchen es pro Jahr. Für das Oktoberfest wird ein spezielles Bier gebraut, das nur im Liter serviert wird Das “Oktoberfest” ist lokal bekannt als die “Wiesn”, nach der Theresienwiese, wo es stattfindet Es fand zuerst im Jahr 1810 statt, um die Hochzeit von König Ludwig I von Bayern mit Therese von Sachsen-Hildburghausen zu feiern.

Den Leuten gefiel es so gut, dass sie beschlossen,

es seitedem jedes Jahr zu feiern! Es fiel in seiner Geschichte 24 aus, zum Beispiel während des 1.

Und 2. Weltkriegs. Adolf Hitler hat es für seine Propaganda genutzt und es im Jahr 1938 zum “ Großdeutschen Volksfest” benannt. Seitdem, hat sich viel geändert.

Zum Beispiel ist es seit 1970 ein “Hotspot” für die LGBT-Gemeinschaft. Letztes Jahr wurde ein Rekord 7.3 Millionen Tonnen Bier serviert!!! Eine durchschnittliche Oktoberfest-Kellner(in) braucht nur 1.5 SEKUNDEN, eine Maß Bier einzugießen!

Kellner(innen) tragen oft 12 Liter Bier auf einmal! Im Jahr 1901 hat ALBERT EINSTEIN als Hilfsarbeiter auf dem Oktoberfest gearbeitet!

Man turnt Gerade, Spirale oder Sprung. Der Sport ist nicht olympisch, aber es gibt Weltmeisterschaften.

Glossary:

Hügelig - der Hügel: hilly - the hill Der Reifen: the wheel Hinunter: downhill Turnen: do gymnastics Gerade: straight Der Sprung - springen: to jump Die Weltmeisterschaft: world championships

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Make Your Own Language

Johan Nerlov imagines if you were faced with changing everything you know about language

simple words, and if you can write down a character. Now, the way you write is up to you.

You can either do it with madeup characters, or simply use the current alphabets. But, if you do make up an alphabet, write anguage is some- down the pronunciation in one thing that, to be hon- already established script. est, we never thought we may have to live without.

Everyday we say word after word to try and communicate our feelings and thoughts to others. But, imagine if you were suddenly faced with making up your own, what would you do?

In this article we’ll try and give you steps to try and make up your own language and hopefully try and use it with your friends and family.

The first step is to name your The second step is to, gradlanguage. Be creative, it’s up ually, built up the vocabulary. to you. As you do this begin to Now, if you’re smart, you’ll start build up a type of accent and with smaller words and build pronunciation, I’d start making the larger ones out of multiple up simple words like; and, I, smaller ones. As a made up exyou and sun. For example ‘and’ ample: “nut” can be “shīna’ and could become ‘kâ’ and so on. hence ‘coconut’ can be ‘làlàshīRemember, write down these na’. As always, write down the

L

Try and make it sound as natural as you can

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character (if they have one) and how to phonetically pronounce them. As you do this, build up a grammar structure. For example, you can use the ‘object, subject, verb’ order, or simply make up your own. Remember, it’s your own language! Don’t forget to try and make it sound as natural as you can, and as comprehensible as can be.

Now comes the hardest part, the actual structure of the whole language. What you should concentrate the most on is: how to pluralize words (do you simply add a ‘v’ for example), how to conjugate verbs and decline nouns. Finally, suffixes not as easy as they may seem, (will ‘-ly’ become ‘-gou’). For these I’ll leave it up to you, and again remember to write it down.

Finally, compose a form of dictionary, both for words and grammar. In doing so you can easily share your language but, ensure that you practice so as not to forget and waste all that hard work. But, remember, don’t forget your everyday language, you might, after all, need it.

Entrevista a Sra. Fraile

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qué universidad has asistido y qué has estudiado?

“He asistido a la Universidad de Salamanca y a la Universidad de Edimburgo. Estudié filología Inglesa y traducción e interpretación”

Cual es el mejor recuerdo de tu infancia?

“La primera vez que viajé en avión” Quién es tu artista/músico/cantante favorito?

“Vetusta Morla y Arctic Monkeys” Cuál es el mejor regalo que has recibido?

“Billetes para un viaje a Rusia” Si sólo tuvieras tres palabras para describirte a ti misma, ¿cuáles serían?

“Viajera, tranquila y divertida” Describe tu tiempo de enseñanza en Abingdon en Who is your favourite artist / musician / singer?

“Vetusta Morla and Arctic Monkeys” dos palabras “¡Estupendo y emocionante!”

What is the best gift you’ve ever received?

“Tickets for a trip to Russia” ¿Cuál es el logro del que estás más orgullosa? “¡Trabajar aquí!”

If you only had three words to describe yourself, Si pudieras viajar a cualquier parte del mundo what would they be?

“A traveler, peaceful/relaxed and fun” ¿dónde irías y por qué?

“Viajaría a un país de Sudamérica, probableDescribe your teaching time at Abingdon so far in mente a Chile” two words.

Si estuvieras perdida en una isla y sólo pudieras “Great! Exciting!” tener cinco posesiones, ¿cuáles serían?

“Mi libro favorito, mis amigos, un mechero para What is your proudest achievement?

“Working here!” encender fuego, cartas… y mi iPod” Durante 5 años enteros, preferirías tener hipo If you could travel anywhere in the world, where would you go? constante, o no poder hablar Español?

“I would travel to South America, probably “...No hablaría Español…”

Chile” ¿Qué temes?

You’re stranded on an island and you can only “El avión y las guerras” have five possessions, what would they be? hat university did you go to and “My favorite book, my friends, a lighter, cards ... what did you study? and my iPod” “The University of Salamanca and the University of Edinburgh. For 5 whole years, would you rather have conI studied English philology, trans- stant hiccups, or be unable to speak Spanish? lation and interpretation “ “... I would not speak Spanish ...”

W

What is your best memory from your childhood?

“The first time I traveled by plane”

What do you fear?

“Planes and wars”

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Échange avec Aix

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Ben Adams recounts his experience on the French Exchange

U

n échange scolaire est quand deux écoles se rencontrent et chaque élève reste avec une des familles françaises ou anglaises. Pendant le séjour en France, quand le correspondant va à l’école, on passe du temps avec ses amis qui font aussi l’échange et on visite plein de sites historiques et culturels.

Moi, j’ai fait l’échange avec le lycée de la Nativité à Aix-enProvence et j’ai passé de très bons moments. Je me suis vraiment bien entendu avec ma correspondante et sa famille. Elle avait deux frères qui étaient vachement sympa car ils m’ont aidé à faire mes devoirs de français!

En plus, sa mère et son père ont cuisiné de très bons plats, donc on a mangé beaucoup. Quand ma “corres” était à l’école, j’ai fait beaucoup de choses avec mes amis. Par exemple nous

J’ai passé d’excellents moments avec mes amis et je me suis fait de nouveaux amis français sommes allés au Pont du Gard.

C’est un pont romain ancien et très célèbre. C’était amusant car nous avons marché le long de la partie supérieure du pont. Nous avons aussi fait d’autres choses telles que la visite d’Aix, de Marseille et son stade vélodrome, et nous avons suivi les pas de Van Gogh à Arles. Je me suis vraiment bien amusé.

Je suis allé en France pendant les vacances de Pâques et la famille de ma correspondante ma invité à nouveau.

Je vais y aller cet été avec un de mes amis. Je pense que ce sera formidable parce que pendant l’été il fait vraiment chaud

dans le sud de la France. Si j’avais le choix, je ferais à nouveau l’échange parce que cette expérience a été vraiment bénéfique pour mon français.

J’ai passé d’excellents moments avec mes amis et je me suis fait de nouveaux amis français.

Glossary:

séjour - visit/stay correspondant - exchange entendu - get on well with vachement - really/very pont - bridge célèbre - famous partie supérieure - highest tier stade - stadium choix - choice

Spanish vs. English Football Angus Blomfield compares the different approaches

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ticket price in England is much higher than in Spain, there is a much higher attendance rate, meaning you get the most from what you’ve paid for, and enjoy a great atmosphere; whereas in Spain, clubs which are struggling to attract fans to the fixtures are getting fined as the small crowds can be seen on television, reflecting badly on the league as a whole, and has a knock-on effect with how much money is being put into the system.

Premier League: 8.5/10 La Liga: 6/10

ngland’s Premier League and Spain’s La Liga are widely regarded as the two most entertaining and successful football leagues in the world. However there is much debate over which is better; I am going to settle the argument by assessing 5 key areas which make up the overall quality of a league, and rank them with a points system, each given a mark out of ten.

The winner will be the league 2.Players’ Wages with the highest overall score.

Both player and manager salaries in Spain’s top division pale 1.Attendance Rates and Match- in comparison to England’s wagday Ticket Costs es; This comes as a result of the Although the average matchday acquisition of several TV deals,

which give English clubs a greater freedom to spend money on players, rather than look after the financial state of the club.

This benefits the Premier League as it attracts better players and managers to come to England, therefore having a positive effect on attendance rates.

Premier League: 8.5/10 La Liga: 7/10 3.League Competitiveness The competitiveness of a league in terms of number of different clubs with the domestic title can be used to measure the overall strength in depth of the top division. For the past 10 years in Spain, the only two real title contenders have been Barcelona and Real Madrid, Atletico Madrid recently being the only other club to have won it in that

21

La

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The quality of a league cannot only be measured by fan satisfaction

iga time. Whereas in England, four different clubs have won the domestic titles in the past 10 years (Man.Utd, Man.City, Chelsea and Leicester), with other clubs such as Liverpool, Tottenham and Arsenal being real contenders. This variety of clubs is key in determining the quality of a league, as it means every result counts, which keeps the season more interesting, and drawing bigger crowds to games.

Premier League: 9/10 La Liga: 7.5/10 4.European Success The level of a club is truly tested in european competitions, and Spanish clubs come out on top in this area, with 16 European trophies in total, compared to 12 from Premier League clubs.

Although it may appear quite close in terms of the statistics, being that only four trophies separate the two countries, Spanish clubs have won 8 European Cups since 2000, compared to

only 3 from English clubs. This highlights the strength of the clubs at the top of Spain’s La Liga, and how they have performed at the highest level in recent years. This is disappointing from a Premier League point of view, especially seeing as it has the largest player budget in the world.

Premier League: 7/10 La Liga: 10/10

European Championships). Although Spain’s national team hasn’t produced good results at the previous World Cup and European Championships, England haven’t done much better, dropping out of the 2014 World Cup in the group stages and losing to Iceland 2-1 in Euro 2016. This shows how the Premier League has little focus on producing higher quality English youth academy players, and in5. National Team Success stead are buying players from Having spoken about how abroad as a short term solution.

Spanish football performs, and Premier League: 4/10 how England consistently un- La Liga: 9/10 derperforms, at the highest level, this trend is replicated on Conclusion the international level (England Premier League: 37/50 have won 1 World Cup, Spain La Liga: 39.5/50 have won 1 World Cup and 3 Spain’s La Liga is the winner!

Highest

Lowest

Average

Attendance

75,000 (Man.Utd) 78,800 (Barcelona)

11,500 (Bournemouth) 4,500 (SD Eibar)

36,500 27,000

Matchday Ticket Costs

£72 (Arsenal) £57 (Real Madrid)

£32 (Bournemouth) £23.5 (SD Eibar)

£53.80 £40.30

Player Wages

£13.5m/yr (W.Rooney) £23m/yr (C.Ronaldo)

-

£2.3m/yr £998,000/yr

Manager Wages

£15m/yr (J.Mourinho) £8m/yr (Z.Zidane)

-

£4.1m/yr £2.7m/yr

Tongue Twisters

German Gibst Du dem Opi Opium, bringt Opium den Opi um.

(Meaning: When you give grandpa Opium, Opium kills grandpa.)

Spanish “Tres tristes tigres tragaban trigo en un trigal en tres tristes trastos.

(Meaning: Three sad tigers swallowed wheat in a wheat field in three sad utensils.)

Danish Storstrømsbrosekspropriationskommissionsmedlem (Meaning: Member of the commission to expropriate private property dor the building of the bridge over Storstrømmen)

Mandarin 四是四，十是十，十四是十四，四十是四十； 谁把十四说“十适”，就打他十四；谁把四十 说“适十”，就打他四十 sì shì sì, shí shì shí, shísì shì shísì, sìshí shì sìshí; shéi bǎ shísì shuō “shíshì”, jiù dǎ tā shísì, shéi bǎ sìshí shuō “shìshí”, jiù dǎ tā sìshí.

(Meaning: Four is four, ten is ten, fourteen is fourteen, forty is forty. If anyone pronounces “shísì” as “shíshì”, hit them fourteen times, if anyone pronounces “sìshí” as “shìshí”, hit them forty times.)

Italian Aiuole (contains all five vowels) (Meaning: flower-beds)

French Gros gras grand grain d’orge, tout gros-gras-grand- French grain-d’orgerisé, quand te dé-gros-gras-grand-grain- Cinq chiens chassent six chats. d’orgeriseras-tu? Je me dé-gros-gras-grand-grain- (Meaning: Five dogs chase six cats) d’orgeriserai quand tous les gros gras grands grains d’orge se seront dé-gros-gras-grand-grain-d’orgerisés.

Spaghettieis

Ein Sehr Deutsches Phänomen

Alex Ainslie gives you a classic German recipe Was ist das?

Spaghettiseis wurde im Jahr 1969 von Dario Fontanella in Mannheim kreiert und ist ein deutsches Eis-Gericht, das so aussieht wie Spaghetti Bolognese. Dies wird dadurch erreicht, dass Vanilleeis durch eine Kartoffelpresse gepresst wird, um Spaghetti zu simulieren. Es wird dann mit Erdbeersoße und geriebener weißer Schokolade garniert (um Tomatensoße und Käse zu simulieren).

Was brauche ich?

1 halbe Tasse Schlagsahne (half a cup of whipped cream) 1 Tasse Erdbeeren (1 cup strawberries) 2 Esslöffel Zucker (2 tablespoons sugar) 3 Tassen Vanilleeis (3 cups of vanilla ice cream) 1 Tafel geriebene weiße Schokolade (1 bar of grated white chocolate) Wie mache ich es?

1. Erdbeeren und Zucker im Topf weich kochen, zerdrücken und kühlen - put berries and sugar in cooking pot, cook until soft, mash then cool 2. Geschlagene Schlagsahne in Schale geben put whipped cream in dish 3.Vanilleeis durch Kartoffelpresse pressen, dann auf Schlagsahne in Schale geben - press ice cream through the potato presser, then put in dish on whipped cream 4.Erdbeere soße auf Spaghettieis verteilen - spread strawberry sauce over spaghettified-ice cream 5. Iiße Schokolade über Erdbeeresoße reibengrate white chocolate over the strawberry sauce

The Polyglot Contributors

Qasim Naqvi Fergus Fishburn Ben Wilson Johnny Lloyd Joe Curtis Alex Ling Angus Blomfield Felipe Jin Li Johan Nerlov Ben Adams Alex Ainslie Harry Donoghue

Editor-in-Chief George Jeffreys

Head of Art and Design Blake Jones

Supervising Editor Regina Engel-Hart Printed by LeachPrint

Want to write for The Polyglot?

Contact us at regina.engelhart@abingdon.org.uk Find The Polyglot on ISSUU @http://issuu.com/ thepolyglotmagazine

The Polyglot is a publication wholly produced and owned by Abingdon School, a company limited by guarantee and a registered charity (Charity No. 1071298). Copyright in all articles and images remains with the creators and owners of those works. Previously published images and quotes or other excerpts from published works are used either by explicit permission or under the terms of Fair Use or a Creative Commons licence.

The Polyglot Issue 5