North American Computational Linguistics Olympiad (NACLO)

University of Alberta is hosting the NACLO 2014 competition at its Edmonton campus

06 December 2013

North American Computational Linguistics Olympiad (NACLO)

What is NACLO?

NACLO stands for the North American Computational Linguistics Olympiad. Founded in 2006, NACLO is an international linguistics competition and part of the International Science Olympiads. This olympiad is a contest in which high-school students solve linguistic puzzles. In solving the problems, students learn about the diversity and consistency of language, while exercising logic skills. No prior knowledge of linguistics or second languages is necessary. Professionals in linguistics, computational linguistics, and language technologies use dozens of languages to create engaging problems that represent cutting edge issues in their fields. The competition has attracted top students to study and work in those same fields. It is truly an opportunity for young people to experience a taste of natural-language processing in the 21st century. There are two rounds of the competition. The first is an open round, and if you do well on it you will be invited to compete in the national invitational round. The top students from each country qualify for the International Linguistics Olympiad (IOL). In 2013 the US team finished in first place at the IOL in Manchester. The 2014 event will be in Beijing.

Who can participate?

NACLO is designed for middle and high school students residing in North America (Grades 6-12).

For more information please visit our website NACLO2014

For further information, please contact:


Dr. Sally Rice
Department of Linguistics
University of Alberta
Edmonton, AB T6G 2E7
tel: 780.492.809
email: sally.rice@ualberta.ca