BFLO 2023

 BGA Fall Linguistics Olympiad

I am happy to invite all Tennessee middle school (5th-8th) and high school (9th-12th) students to compete at the Annual BGA Fall Linguistics Olympiad (BFLO 2023 this year) at Battle Ground Academy in Franklin, Tennessee, on Saturday, November 11, 2023. See below for registration.

Come try your hand and your brain at decoding complex linguistic features and "hacking" obscure languages from Abma to Zapotec.

You'll need an adult sponsor such as a teacher, administrator, or parent, and you can start preparing by trying some practice puzzles from NACLO (North American Computational Linguistics Open) or from MTSU's sample linguistics puzzles or a previous year's BFLO puzzles.
Students of either level (middle school, 5th-8th, and high school, 9th-12th) may choose to compete alone for the individual event or in a small group of 2-3 people for the team event.

Awards

Gold, silver, and bronze medals will be awarded to the top three individuals in the high school individual event (9th-12th grades) and to the top three individuals in the middle school individual event (5th-8th). Likewise, the top three teams in the high school team event, and the top three teams in the middle school team event will receive medals.

Registration

The registration period is now open and closes on Wednesday, November 1 Saturday, November 4, 2023. The competition is free; there is no entry fee.

Parents or school sponsors such as teachers or counselors may register students to compete. Students from public, private, and home-based schools may compete as long as they live in Tennessee and are currently in grades 5-12. To register, you must fill out the Google form below or email the following for each student competitor to Dr. Abram Ring (abram.ring@mybga.org):

• the parent's/sponsor's name
• the parent's/sponsor's email
• the student's name
• the student's email
• the student's school
• the student's grade
• the event (individual/team)
• if competing in the team event, list team mates.

Getting to BGA Glen Echo Campus for our guests!

Here is the Google Maps link:

https://goo.gl/maps/vntJWCFWDsocW2xZ9

Once you turn on to Ernest Rice Lane, you will soon pass the Mormon temple on your left, take the next left onto Echo Lane. The Middle School Gym (sign-in, assemblies) will then be the first building on your right, and the Middle School Academic Building (competition and afternoon activities) will be the third building on the right.

Event Schedule

8:35-9:00 am MS Gym	Check-in to receive packets in Gym entry
9:00-9:15 am MS Gym	Opening Assembly
about 9:15-11:45 am MS Academic Building	Individual & Group Contests for HS & MS
9:30-12:45 pm MS 33	Judges Only: Scoring Puzzles
11:45+ pm MS lobby, 32 & 31 / Off campus	lunch BYO / off campus on your own
12:00-1:15 pm MS 32	Movie Room: "The Quiet Girl"
12:00-1:15 pm MS 31	Games & Puzzle Solutions
1:15 pm+  MS Gym (hopefully done by 1:30)	Awards Assembly