Linguistics Essay Prize

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 2025 competition can be found here.

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 Friday 1 August 2025. 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.

About you

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Your Entry

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Accepted file types: doc, docx, pdf, Max. file size: 2 MB.

Please list any help you received in producing this essay from either another person (e.g. 'teacher commented on my draft') or from Artificial Intelligence (e.g. ChatGPT). If you did not receive any such help, please write 'none'.(Required)

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1. I hereby agree that for educational/non-commercial purposes the College may use the Recordings (transcribed or otherwise) and may use the essay I submit (‘Essay’) (with due acknowledgement of my authorship) throughout the world for the full period of copyright, including all renewals, reversions, extensions and revivals of such period, in the following ways: a) storing, publishing or transmitting the Recordings and/or the Essay in College internal archives and databases; and b) exhibiting, publishing or transmitting the Recordings and/or the Essay in print, on DVD or other digital media and on the Internet at College websites and College-affiliated websites; and c) distributing the Recordings and/or the Essay to the press, media organisations and other interested parties for publication, transmission or broadcast.] 2. The information provided in this form is used for the administration of the Linguistics Essay Prize and is managed and stored in accordance with UK Data Protection regulations http://www.admin.cam.ac.uk/univ/information/dpa/. 3. This agreement shall be governed in all respects by English law.

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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

2024

1st Prize: Koko Kusano (Crimson Global Academy Japan)
2nd Prize: Jasmine Collins (Nower Hill High School)
Commended: Rishi Bhardwaj (Winchester College); Sacha Hunter (Westminster School); Yan Yeung Hui (Shanghai High School International Division)

The 2024 Linguistics Essay Prize winners at the celebratory event in Cambridge, September 2024 (Photo: Koko Kusano)

2023

1st Prize: Aran Johnstone-Trias (Twyford Church of England High School)
2nd Prize: Maisie Haenelt (Lichfield Cathedral School)
Commended: Finn Charest (Stuyvesant High School); Sophie Mobley (Paul Laurence Dunbar High School); Yi Ding (St Michael’s College 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)