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BIC код: STSABGSF
IBAN: BG20STSA93000001682874
Основание: книга 3
Union of Bulgarian Mathematicians
Mathematics and Its Applications, Volume 3
Linguistic Magic and Mystery
by I. DERZHANSKI
Institute of Mathematics and Informatics
Bulgarian Academy of Sciences
Sofia, Bulgaria
ISBN 978-954-8880-27-5
Sofia, 2009
Self-sufficient linguistic problems
(launched as a competitive genre in Moscow in the mid-1960s) are a way
of introducing linguistics to secondary school students, but also to all
those who are interested, in an entertaining enigmatic form. A
linguistic problem features a phenomenon presumed unknown, which the
solver must discover using only general knowledge and logical thought.
Each of the twenty chapters of this book is based on a problem assigned
at a linguistic contest in Bulgaria around the turn of the millennium.
Each problem is accompanied by a detailed solution, as
well as three readings (at the beginning, in the middle and at the end
of the chapter) on the language, the family to which it belongs and the
area where it is spoken, the phenomena in the problem, its counterparts
in other languages and much else.
The text is accompanied by a glossary of linguistic terms, family trees
of all languages mentioned in the book and several alphabetical indices.
Audience: The book is intended for participants in linguistic contests, for their teachers and trainers, and for all who wish to learn about language, languages and linguistics.
The application of mathematical logic
and scientific pattern-sniffing to our own language — or, in the case of
this fascinating book, to many, many languages — is a great example of
the power of scientific thought. The puzzles themselves are quite
wonderful, and the commentary and background about the languages will be
a satisfying and varied treat for anyone with an interest in
linguistics.
—E. Paul Goldenberg, Researcher and Developer at Education Development
Center, Inc., Newton (MA), Distinguished Scholar at Education
Development Center
This extraordinary book is an intellectual tour-de-force in the
guise of a richly documented collection of problems in language and
logic. Except for professional linguists, the existence of Linguistics
Olympiads is little known, even to those familiar with Mathematics
Olympiads. Thus, it will be a revelation to most readers as well as a
compelling introduction to this novel and fascinating area. It provides
a unique and valuable contribution to those interested in exploring the
sense, structure, and beauty of language. The provocative problems
provide challenges across a wide range of topicsin syntax, semantics,
phonology, and morphology, and they span a great variety of diverse
languages, including Hungarian, Manchu, Irish, Chinese, Japanese, Maori,
Hindi, and several others. Along the way, there are compelling asides
relating the linguistic materials to topics in literature, mathematics,
history, poetry, games, and jokes.
—Wallace Feurzeig, Division Scientist of the Information Sciences
Division at BBN Laboratories, Cambridge (MA)
Dr Ivan Derzhanski (born in 1967) is a senior researcher at the Institute of Mathematics and Informatics of the Bulgarian Academy of Sciences. His interests cover a broad spectrum of topics in theoretical, mathematical and computational linguistics, interlinguistics and the methodology of linguistics. Since 1998 Dr Derzhanski has been in charge of the scientific support of the linguistic competitions for secondary school students in Bulgaria (presently as Chair of the National Committee for Organising the Olympiad and the National Contest in Mathematical Linguistics). He is a key member of the Organising Committee, Problem Committee and Jury of the International Olympiad in Theoretical, Mathematical and Applied Linguistics. Dr Derzhanski regularly lectures on theoretical and enigmatic linguistics in Bulgaria, Russia and other countries.