This annual Essay Competition aims to raise awareness of the systematic study of language as an interesting and multifaceted subject in and of itself. It is hoped that the Prize will encourage students with an interest in linguistics to explore this further and to apply for a University course in this subject. In addition, the Prize aims to recognise the achievements of high-calibre students from whatever background they may come, as well as the achievements of those who teach them.
The competition is open to all students with an interest in how language works regardless of the specific subjects they are currently studying at A-Level (or similar qualification). For example, it may be of interest to students taking A-Levels in Modern Languages, English Language or Classics, but also to students taking Psychology or Mathematics. The competition is for students who have not yet started the final year of secondary education (this would be students up to Year-12 (Lower 6th) for students in England and Wales; the competition is open to any international student who wishes to take part).
The topic for the 2024 competition is as follows:
People often assume that speaking figuratively rather than literally is just a stylistic choice which does not add anything to the substance of the message they wish to convey. However, recent research reports that football players run faster if they are instructed to do so using figurative language such as similes and metaphors (‘sprint as if you are a jet taking off into the sky ahead’) compared to literal instructions (‘sprint as fast as you can’). Other research reports that the metaphor chosen to frame a debate about a topic, such as measures to be taken against crime (‘crime is a beast that ravages our city’ vs ‘crime is a disease that is spreading through our city’) impacts people’s preferred solutions.
What do these observations tell us about figurative language and its uses? Consider how figurative language works, its relation to thought, and how language (figurative and literal) is represented in the mind.
You may wish to consult some of the following open-access resources:
https://www.bbc.co.uk/newsround/68465717
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Conceptual_metaphor
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Embodied_cognition
https://journals.plos.org/plosone/article?id=10.1371/journal.pone.0016782
https://journals.plos.org/plosone/article?id=10.1371/journal.pone.0052961
https://royalsocietypublishing.org/doi/10.1098/rstb.2021.0375
https://www.thoughtco.com/what-is-a-dead-metaphor-1690418
https://www.yourdictionary.com/articles/examples-dead-metaphors
https://aeon.co/essays/how-changing-the-metaphors-we-use-can-change-the-way-we-think
https://behavioralscientist.org/5-studies-the-ubiquity-of-metaphor/
https://www.creativeml.ox.ac.uk/what-metaphor-and-how-does-it-work/index.html
https://tesl-ej.org/wordpress/issues/volume18/ej70/ej70a5/
Candidates are invited to submit an essay of between 2,000 and 2,500 words (references do not count towards the word limit; any widely used referencing style is acceptable as long as you use it consistently). Essays should be submitted using the form below by the deadline of 12 noon on Thursday 1 August 2024. Late submissions cannot be accepted. All candidates will be notified with the results of the competition by mid September. Due to the volume of essays received we are unable to provide any feedback on the essays themselves.
Any queries should be directed to Professor Napoleon Katsos at linguisticsprize@trin.cam.ac.uk.
The competition carries a First Prize of £600, to be split equally between the candidate and his or her school or college, and a Second Prize of £400, which again is to be shared equally between the candidate and his or her school or college. The school or college’s portion of each prize will be issued in the form of book tokens with which to buy linguistics books. In addition, up to three further essays of a high quality will be commended.
How information about you will be used
Your email address will only be used for the purposes of contacting you in regards to your submission . It will not be used for any other reason or given or sold to any other company or organization. You will receive a copy of the information you have provided to the email address you specify.
Past Prize Winners
2023
- 1st Prize: Aran Johnstone-Trias (Twyford Church of England High School)
- 2nd Prize: Maisie Haenelt (Lichfield Cathedral School)
2022
- 1st Prize: Shivan Arora (St Paul’s School)
- 2nd Prize: Rosalie Smith (Tonbridge Grammar School)
Commendations:
- Hannah Furnkranz (Wallington High School for Girls)
- Victoria Mnatsakanyan (Lawrence Park Collegiate Institute)
- Brandon Yoo (Dwight School, Seoul)
2021
- 1st Prize: Eleanor Jones (Leicester Grammar School)
- 2nd Prize: Amy Freeman (Woodford County High School)
2020
- 1st Prize: Lucia Guzy-Kirkden (Wyggeston & Queen Elizabeth I College)
- 2nd Prize: Lizzy Abel (Withington Girls’ School)
2019
- 1st Prize: Eliza Logan (Lady Margaret School)
- 2nd Prize: James Morley (Harlington Upper School)
2018
- 1st Prize: Oliver Pearey (Colchester Royal Grammar School)
- 2nd Prize: Eloise Hunt (King Edward VI College, Stourbridge)
2017
- 1st Prize: Julia Southern-Wilkins (Bedford Girls’ School)
- 2nd Prize: Martha Birtles (Holy Cross College, Bury)
2016
- 1st Prize: Shefali Chander (Westminster School)
- 2nd Prize: David Fenton-Smith (High Storrs School)
2015
- Joint 1st Prize: Olivia Bonsall (Holy Cross College, Bury)
- Joint 1st Prize: Georgina Connors (The British School of Paris)
- 2nd Prize: Kirsty Bailey (Croydon High School)
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