Pig Latin Around the World A Classroom Communication Game

Pig Latin Around the World

A Classroom Communication Game

Introduction (5 minutes)

Explain to students that "secret languages" have existed in many cultures for fun, privacy, or even as a form of resistance. Pig Latin is just one example - many languages have their own version!

Learning Phase (15 minutes)

Divide students into small groups and assign each group one of these Pig Latin variations:

1. English Pig Latin

   • Move the first consonant (or consonant cluster) to the end and add "ay"
   • If word begins with vowel, just add "way" or "yay" at the end
   • Example: "hello" → "ello-hay", "apple" → "apple-way"

2. Fikonspråket (Swedish "Fig Language") with English words

   • Add "fi" before each consonant
   • Example: "hello" → "fififiefifilfifilo"
   • Example: "book" → "fibofiofifik"

3. Kontinkieli (Finnish "Container Language") with English words

   • Replace every other syllable with "kon" or "tin"
   • Example: "hello" → "hekon lo"
   • Example: "beautiful" → "beaukon tikon ful"

4. Loucherbem (French Butcher Language) with English words

   • Move the first consonant to the end, add the suffix "em" or "ji"
   • Add "l" at the beginning
   • Example: "hello" → "lellohem"
   • Example: "teacher" → "leachertem"

5. Jeringonza (Spanish) with English words

   • Insert "p" plus the same vowel after each vowel
   • Example: "hello" → "hepelopopo"
   • Example: "school" → "schopoopool"

6. Mattenenglisch (German - Bern) with English words

   • Replace the first vowel with "i"
   • Move everything before this vowel to the end
   • Add "ee" at the end
   • Example: "hello" → "illoheee"
   • Example: "computer" → "imputercoee"

7. Estonian "Bi" Language with English words

   • Add "bi" after the first syllable
   • Example: "hello" → "helbi-lo"
   • Example: "computer" → "combi-puter"

Practice Phase (10 minutes)

• Each group practices translating common phrases into their assigned language
• Some English phrases to practice:
  • "Nice to meet you"
  • "What time is lunch?"
  • "This is so much fun"
  • "Let's play a game"
  • "I don't understand"

Translation Challenge (15 minutes)

1. Each group creates 5 simple sentences in their assigned Pig Latin
2. Groups rotate papers and try to decode messages from other groups
3. Award points for correct translations

Secret Message Relay (15 minutes)

1. Form teams with one member from each Pig Latin language group
2. Create a message chain where each person must translate from one Pig Latin to another
3. The final message is compared to the original to see how accurate the translation remained

Code-Breaking Game (20 minutes)

1. Divide into two teams
2. Each team creates secret messages in different Pig Latin varieties
3. Teams exchange messages and compete to decode them first
4. Award points for speed and accuracy

Cultural Connection (10 minutes)

Discuss:

• Why did these coded languages develop?
• How were they used historically? (particularly Loucherbem during WWII)
• Do students have experience with other language games?
• How do these "secret languages" compare to modern encryption and coding?

Creative Project (Homework)

Students create their own Pig Latin variation with specific rules, including:

• A sample vocabulary of 10 English words transformed according to their rules
• 3 simple sentences
• An explanation of the rule system
• A brief history of their imaginary language (who would use it and why)

Introduction (5 minutes)

Explain to students that "secret languages" have existed in many cultures for fun, privacy, or even as a form of resistance. Pig Latin is just one example - many languages have their own version!

Learning Phase (15 minutes)

Divide students into small groups and assign each group one of these Pig Latin variations:

1. English Pig Latin

   • Move the first consonant (or consonant cluster) to the end and add "ay"
   • If word begins with vowel, just add "way" or "yay" at the end
   • Example: "hello" → "ello-hay", "apple" → "apple-way"

2. Fikonspråket (Swedish "Fig Language") with English words

   • Add "fi" before each consonant
   • Example: "hello" → "fififiefifilfifilo"
   • Example: "book" → "fibofiofifik"

3. Kontinkieli (Finnish "Container Language") with English words

   • Replace every other syllable with "kon" or "tin"
   • Example: "hello" → "hekon lo"
   • Example: "beautiful" → "beaukon tikon ful"

4. Loucherbem (French Butcher Language) with English words

   • Move the first consonant to the end, add the suffix "em" or "ji"
   • Add "l" at the beginning
   • Example: "hello" → "lellohem"
   • Example: "teacher" → "leachertem"

5. Jeringonza (Spanish) with English words

   • Insert "p" plus the same vowel after each vowel
   • Example: "hello" → "hepelopopo"
   • Example: "school" → "schopoopool"

6. Mattenenglisch (German - Bern) with English words

   • Replace the first vowel with "i"
   • Move everything before this vowel to the end
   • Add "ee" at the end
   • Example: "hello" → "illoheee"
   • Example: "computer" → "imputercoee"

7. Estonian "Bi" Language with English words

   • Add "bi" after the first syllable
   • Example: "hello" → "helbi-lo"
   • Example: "computer" → "combi-puter"

Practice Phase (10 minutes)

• Each group practices translating common phrases into their assigned language
• Some English phrases to practice:
  • "Nice to meet you"
  • "What time is lunch?"
  • "This is so much fun"
  • "Let's play a game"
  • "I don't understand"

Translation Challenge (15 minutes)

1. Each group creates 5 simple sentences in their assigned Pig Latin
2. Groups rotate papers and try to decode messages from other groups
3. Award points for correct translations

Secret Message Relay (15 minutes)

1. Form teams with one member from each Pig Latin language group
2. Create a message chain where each person must translate from one Pig Latin to another
3. The final message is compared to the original to see how accurate the translation remained

Code-Breaking Game (20 minutes)

1. Divide into two teams
2. Each team creates secret messages in different Pig Latin varieties
3. Teams exchange messages and compete to decode them first
4. Award points for speed and accuracy

Cultural Connection (10 minutes)

Discuss:

• Why did these coded languages develop?
• How were they used historically? (particularly Loucherbem during WWII)
• Do students have experience with other language games?
• How do these "secret languages" compare to modern encryption and coding?

Creative Project (Homework)

Students create their own Pig Latin variation with specific rules, including:

• A sample vocabulary of 10 English words transformed according to their rules
• 3 simple sentences
• An explanation of the rule system
• A brief history of their imaginary language (who would use it and why)

Pig Latin Around the World

A Classroom Communication Game

Introduction (5 minutes)

Explain to students that "secret languages" have existed in many cultures for fun, privacy, or even as a form of resistance. Pig Latin is just one example - many languages have their own version!

Learning Phase (15 minutes)

Divide students into small groups and assign each group one of these Pig Latin variations:

1. English Pig Latin

   • Move the first consonant (or consonant cluster) to the end and add "ay"
   • If word begins with vowel, just add "way" or "yay" at the end
   • Example: "hello" → "ello-hay", "apple" → "apple-way"

2. Fikonspråket (Swedish "Fig Language")

   • Add "fi" before each consonant
   • Example: "hej" (hello) → "fifihej"

3. Kontinkieli (Finnish "Container Language")

   • Replace every other syllable with "kon" or "tin"
   • Example: "terveisin" → "terkon veitin sin"

4. Loucherbem (French Butcher Language)

   • Move the first consonant to the end, add the suffix "em" or "ji"
   • Add "l" at the beginning
   • Example: "boucher" (butcher) → "loucherbem"

5. Jeringonza (Spanish)

   • Insert "p" plus the same vowel after each vowel
   • Example: "hola" → "hopolapa"

6. Mattenenglisch (German - Bern)

   • Replace the first vowel with "i"
   • Move everything before this vowel to the end
   • Add "ee" at the end
   • Example: "Bern" → "irnbee"

7. Estonian "Bi" Language

   • Add "bi" after the first syllable
   • Example: "tere" (hello) → "tebiré"

Practice Phase (10 minutes)

• Each group practices translating common phrases into their assigned language
• Provide a list of useful phrases like: "Hello", "How are you?", "My name is...", "What time is it?", "I don't understand", etc.

Translation Challenge (15 minutes)

1. Each group creates 5 simple sentences in their assigned Pig Latin
2. Groups rotate papers and try to decode messages from other groups
3. Award points for correct translations

Secret Message Relay (15 minutes)

1. Form teams with one member from each Pig Latin language group
2. Create a message chain where each person must translate from one Pig Latin to another
3. The final message is compared to the original to see how accurate the translation remained

Code-Breaking Game (20 minutes)

1. Divide into two teams
2. Each team creates secret messages in different Pig Latin varieties
3. Teams exchange messages and compete to decode them first
4. Award points for speed and accuracy

Cultural Connection (10 minutes)

Discuss:

• Why did these coded languages develop?
• How were they used historically? (particularly Loucherbem during WWII)
• Do students have experience with other language games?
• How do these "secret languages" compare to modern encryption and coding?

Creative Project (Homework)

Students create their own Pig Latin variation with specific rules, including:

• A sample vocabulary of 10 words
• 3 simple sentences
• An explanation of the rule system
• A brief history of their imaginary language (who would use it and why)