| Author | Message | ||
| Usmcfink (Usmcfink)
New member Username: Usmcfink Post Number: 18 Registered: 10-2008 |
Inspired by Tanvishashikant's visa puzzle: Decades ago engineers began working on plans to build the world's largest and greatest structure, privately known as "La Fin du Monde" or LFM. With Sears, Roebuck and Company feeling bested since their loss of phallic dominance, they were ready and willing to fund what would be the greatest structure for decades, perhaps centuries, to come. The engineers began to see their dream come to fruition. Peering down from on-high, God chuckled to himself and said, "I remember seeing something like this before...and that was sure fun the first time!" Indulging His sense of humor, He pointed a finger, smiled, and winked; suddenly it was as in the days of old. The workers were all speaking different languages and nobody could figure out what was going on! These workers were highly specialized and are irreplaceable. Desperate for help, Sears called you in for your expertise on international and ancient or deceased linguistics. You grab your bags and a few colleagues from your university. If only you can identify what language everyone speaks the project may yet be saved! Fortunately, every worker was issued a name badge upon beginning their employment. As you begin to speak to the employees you realize that there are far too many languages being spoken for your small team to handle and you will need to call in more colleagues from around the globe, but which ones?? AHA! You feel that pattern has begun to emerge! Holly Adams is speaking Ormuri fluently Nadia Daniels is speaking Masaba fluently Kyle Smithe is speaking Portuguese Evan McFadden is speaking Vietnamese Now for further questioning to confirm your suspicions... I guess that whole story was somewhat unnecessary to the actual puzzle. Sorry if it was a bit long...but I do like to have my fun =) Also, being new to the forum, I'm not sure if this really falls under the lateral thinking or not... So let me know! | ||
| Howardwoman (Howardwoman)
New member Username: Howardwoman Post Number: 115 Registered: 1-2008 |
Is the pattern mathematical in any way? | ||
| Usmcfink (Usmcfink)
New member Username: Usmcfink Post Number: 47 Registered: 10-2008 |
Is the pattern mathematical in any way? It is mathematical in that it is rule based, don't get carried away with algorithms though. | ||
| Woodworm (Woodworm)
New member Username: Woodworm Post Number: 1566 Registered: 3-2006 |
Is Evan McFadden speaking Vietnamese fluently? Does she speak Swahili? | ||
| Usmcfink (Usmcfink)
New member Username: Usmcfink Post Number: 48 Registered: 10-2008 |
Is Evan McFadden speaking Vietnamese fluently? no, unless otherwise stated the person does not speak it fluently. Part of this puzzle is determining why someone speak fluently in one language but not another Does she speak Swahili? No | ||
| Crazypalpig (Crazypalpig)
New member Username: Crazypalpig Post Number: 2193 Registered: 8-2006 |
Does Evan McFuss speak something fluently? Does Claire Fargoer speak latin? | ||
| Usmcfink (Usmcfink)
New member Username: Usmcfink Post Number: 58 Registered: 10-2008 |
Does Evan McFuss speak something fluently? Yes. Does Claire Fargoer speak latin? No. As you continue interviewing the workers you remember that you have access to a list of possible languages from around the globe. By logging on to the internet you may access the list by visiting this website : http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of_languages | ||
| Crazypalpig (Crazypalpig)
New member Username: Crazypalpig Post Number: 2194 Registered: 8-2006 |
Does Robin Hood speak Vietnamese? Would Robin Walters speak Vietnamese fluently? | ||
| Usmcfink (Usmcfink)
New member Username: Usmcfink Post Number: 71 Registered: 10-2008 |
Does Robin Hood speak Vietnamese? No. Would Robin Walters speak Vietnamese fluently? No. | ||
| Crazypalpig (Crazypalpig)
New member Username: Crazypalpig Post Number: 2200 Registered: 8-2006 |
So I believe that if the last name ends with "s", he or she speaks something fluently. Correct? | ||
| Usmcfink (Usmcfink)
New member Username: Usmcfink Post Number: 104 Registered: 10-2008 |
So I believe that if the last name ends with "s", he or she speaks something fluently. Correct? No. | ||
| Rcs (Rcs)
New member Username: Rcs Post Number: 125 Registered: 9-2008 |
Does anyone speak more than one language? Does everybody speak SOMETHING fluently? | ||
| Usmcfink (Usmcfink)
New member Username: Usmcfink Post Number: 121 Registered: 10-2008 |
Does anyone speak more than one language? Yes. Does everybody speak SOMETHING fluently? Not necessarily. | ||
| Crazypalpig (Crazypalpig)
New member Username: Crazypalpig Post Number: 2208 Registered: 8-2006 |
So it was just a coincidence that all the fluent speaker's last name ends with s? Would Evan Nortingham speak Vietnamese? | ||
| Usmcfink (Usmcfink)
New member Username: Usmcfink Post Number: 122 Registered: 10-2008 |
So it was just a coincidence that all the fluent speaker's last name ends with s? Yes. Would Evan Nortingham speak Vietnamese? Yes. | ||
| Dlcygnet (Dlcygnet)
New member Username: Dlcygnet Post Number: 1448 Registered: 6-2005 |
So... with regard to the first names... does the language they speak have to do with the first letter of their name? And then the reverse alphabet code is used to pick the language (A=Z, B=Y, etc.)? Thus, (E)van speaks (V)ietnamese; (K)yle speaks (P)ortuguese, etc.? Does the last name determine whether or not they're fluent? Higher in the alphabet = more fluent? | ||
| Usmcfink (Usmcfink)
New member Username: Usmcfink Post Number: 128 Registered: 10-2008 |
So... with regard to the first names... does the language they speak have to do with the first letter of their name? YES! But... And then the reverse alphabet code is used to pick the language (A=Z, B=Y, etc.)? Thus, (E)van speaks (V)ietnamese; (K)yle speaks (P)ortuguese, etc.? Does the last name determine whether or not they're fluent?No. Higher in the alphabet = more fluent? No. | ||
| Usmcfink (Usmcfink)
New member Username: Usmcfink Post Number: 129 Registered: 10-2008 |
Actually, scratch that "But..." That part is correct. | ||
| Katelyn_fink (Katelyn_fink)
New member Username: Katelyn_fink Post Number: 1 Registered: 10-2008 |
ok, so the first name determines a language they speak, but not fluently? and their last name determines what language they speak fluently? does the number of letters in their first name have something to do with the number of letters in the language they speak? | ||
| Usmcfink (Usmcfink)
New member Username: Usmcfink Post Number: 133 Registered: 10-2008 |
ok, so the first name determines a language they speak, but not fluently? Yes and their last name determines what language they speak fluently?No. does the number of letters in their first name have something to do with the number of letters in the language they speak?Noish. | ||
| Usmcfink (Usmcfink)
New member Username: Usmcfink Post Number: 134 Registered: 10-2008 |
Oh, and welcome to the forum little sister! | ||
| Dlcygnet (Dlcygnet)
New member Username: Dlcygnet Post Number: 1458 Registered: 6-2005 |
Is it their first name that also decides whether or not they are fluent? I.e. The longer your first name, the more fluent you are? | ||
| Usmcfink (Usmcfink)
New member Username: Usmcfink Post Number: 138 Registered: 10-2008 |
Is it their first name that also decides whether or not they are fluent? Yes. I.e. The longer your first name, the more fluent you are? No...but being the 10th post I will elaborate a little bit. One is either fluent or not, there are no other varying degrees of fluency. One needn't fulfill the requirements of "speaking" to advance to "fluency." It's not nice to be cruel to cats. | ||
| Dlcygnet (Dlcygnet)
New member Username: Dlcygnet Post Number: 1473 Registered: 6-2005 |
How about... is the second letter of the person's first name relevant? I.e. if somebody has a vowel for their second letter, then they speak their language fluently? | ||
| Usmcfink (Usmcfink)
New member Username: Usmcfink Post Number: 146 Registered: 10-2008 |
How about... is the second letter of the person's first name relevant? It is possible. I.e. if somebody has a vowel for their second letter, then they speak their language fluently? Not necessarily...so, Noish. | ||
| Liquizt (Liquizt)
New member Username: Liquizt Post Number: 587 Registered: 5-2008 |
"It is possible" Hmm... First vowel important? First consonant? Position of first occurance of a particular letter if at all? Something similar, in that it depends on the presence and/or position of a letter(s) with some characteristic(s)? | ||
| Usmcfink (Usmcfink)
New member Username: Usmcfink Post Number: 162 Registered: 10-2008 |
"It is possible" Hmm... First vowel important? First consonant? Both are possible. Position of first occurance of a particular letter if at all? No. Something similar, in that it depends on the presence Yes. and/or position No. of a letter(s) with some characteristic(s)Yes.? | ||
| Deathateaster (Deathateaster)
New member Username: Deathateaster Post Number: 191 Registered: 5-2007 |
Is the person's name a word in his/her language? | ||
| Vagary (Vagary)
New member Username: Vagary Post Number: 49 Registered: 11-2008 |
"It's not nice to be cruel to cats." Besides being true, is the above quoted sentence relevant in any way? | ||
| Usmcfink (Usmcfink)
New member Username: Usmcfink Post Number: 173 Registered: 10-2008 |
"It's not nice to be cruel to cats." Besides being true, is the above quoted sentence relevant in any way? Yesish...it's just a lightly coded, vague hint. Don't get confused and think that this now has something to do with cats. | ||
| Doctapeppa (Doctapeppa)
New member Username: Doctapeppa Post Number: 1122 Registered: 12-2004 |
Is Google language tools relevant? | ||
| Usmcfink (Usmcfink)
New member Username: Usmcfink Post Number: 209 Registered: 10-2008 |
Is Google language tools relevant? No. | ||
| Usmcfink (Usmcfink)
New member Username: Usmcfink Post Number: 219 Registered: 10-2008 |
I have no idea why I did not respond to this before, but, in reviewing the puzzle, I realized I didn't.... And then the reverse alphabet code is used to pick the language (A=Z, B=Y, etc.)? Thus, (E)van speaks (V)ietnamese; (K)yle speaks (P)ortuguese, etc.? Yes! This is the basis for the puzzle. Now, all that remains is figuring out how it is applied. | ||
| Doctapeppa (Doctapeppa)
New member Username: Doctapeppa Post Number: 1396 Registered: 12-2004 |
Can you find a bunch of people who are bilingual and form a translation chain? Or perhaps use pictograms? Should we try to figure out who speaks what language? | ||
| Usmcfink (Usmcfink)
New member Username: Usmcfink Post Number: 230 Registered: 10-2008 |
Can you find a bunch of people who are bilingual and form a translation chain? I think that would work. So long as fluent and non-fluent were allowed to cross. Or perhaps use pictograms? Sure, I think pictures are pretty universal Should we try to figure out who speaks what language? That's the whole point of the puzzle, to figure out the pattern =) | ||
| Doctapeppa (Doctapeppa)
New member Username: Doctapeppa Post Number: 1425 Registered: 12-2004 |
Well, why didn't you say so? xD | ||
| Usmcfink (Usmcfink)
New member Username: Usmcfink Post Number: 234 Registered: 10-2008 |
Well, I guess I didn't say it explicitly, but I did say that if you can figure out what languages people are speaking the project can be saved, and that you saw a pattern start to emerge. I then started you down that pattern and said, "Now for further questioning to confirm your suspicions..." I thought it was clear, but I'll be sure to identify the object of a puzzle in further postings. Thanks for pointing out the ambiguity. | ||
| Doctapeppa (Doctapeppa)
New member Username: Doctapeppa Post Number: 1441 Registered: 12-2004 |
I think I am just very odd, at least in the way I think. Does Jorge speak any particular language? | ||
| Usmcfink (Usmcfink)
New member Username: Usmcfink Post Number: 243 Registered: 10-2008 |
I think I am just very odd, at least in the way I think. Ok by me =) Does Jorge speak any particular language? He sure does! | ||
| Kaygee (Kaygee)
New member Username: Kaygee Post Number: 45 Registered: 9-2008 |
Let's look at some patterns: Kevin Parker is fluent in Portuguese and can speak Egyptian? Kyle Smythe is fluent in both Vietnamese and Bosnian? Harry Sanders can speak Swahili but is fluent in Icelandic? Right track? | ||
| Usmcfink (Usmcfink)
New member Username: Usmcfink Post Number: 288 Registered: 10-2008 |
Let's look at some patterns: Kevin Parker is fluent in Portuguese and can speak Egyptian? Neither. Kyle Smythe is fluent in both Vietnamese and Bosnian? Neither. Harry Sanders can speak Swahili but is fluent in Icelandic? Both are correct Right track? Yes, quite so! You've found the pattern, just aren't applying it 100% correctly. There is also an element that you haven't touched on (which may be why you're misapplying it). You're on the verge of solving though. | ||
| Kaygee (Kaygee)
New member Username: Kaygee Post Number: 52 Registered: 9-2008 |
Bear with me...more patterns to verify... Is Holly Adams fluent in all languages that start with the letter O? Or just Ormuri? Is Holly Adams also fluent in Swahili? or just speaks Swahili? Is she fluent in Zimba? or only speaks Zimba? No Zimba at all? You said that Evan McFuss is fluent in one of the languages, would it be Hebrew? Navajo? or Vietnamese? Other? | ||
| Usmcfink (Usmcfink)
New member Username: Usmcfink Post Number: 291 Registered: 10-2008 |
Bear with me...always =) more patterns to verify... lets see! Is Holly Adams fluent in all languages that start with the letter O? Yes, in fact she is! Or just Ormuri? Is Holly Adams also fluent in Swahili? nope. or just speaks Swahili? yep. Is she fluent in Zimba? or only speaks Zimba? No Zimba at all? This. You said that Evan McFuss is fluent in one of the languageswhere did i say this?, would it be Hebrew? Navajo? or Vietnamese? Other? theoretically there is a language that he would speak fluently, however one isn't coming to mind readily. | ||
| Kaygee (Kaygee)
New member Username: Kaygee Post Number: 56 Registered: 9-2008 |
Hehe. The Evan McFuss reference was back on October 25th 8:45pm. Does the rule use any letters from the person's last name? | ||
| Usmcfink (Usmcfink)
New member Username: Usmcfink Post Number: 292 Registered: 10-2008 |
Hehe. The Evan McFuss reference was back on October 25th 8:45pm. Ah, I see it now. I guess I must have been able to come up with something at the time! Does the rule use any letters from the person's last name? None at all. You've uncovered superfluous information! ;) | ||
| Kaygee (Kaygee)
New member Username: Kaygee Post Number: 60 Registered: 9-2008 |
Well, I think I understand first letter rule and the double letter rule. But there is more to it, right? So, if Nadia is fluent in Masaba, does that mean that Sandra is fluent in Hebrew? | ||
| Usmcfink (Usmcfink)
New member Username: Usmcfink Post Number: 299 Registered: 10-2008 |
You got it =) Care to write the spoiler? Put your good mind to use and kick start the last puzzle I have up! | ||
| Kaygee (Kaygee)
New member Username: Kaygee Post Number: 63 Registered: 9-2008 |
This has been fun. Thanks! How about this: The worker's first initial indicates what languages he/she can speak based a reverse alphabet code. A=Z; B=Y; C=X; etc. The fluency of a particular language requires the presence of TWO of the same letter in the first name. However, in your crafty brilliance, there are two rules that apply in that case. Number 1: If the 2 letters are adjacent, then the fluency is a language from the reverse of the double letters. Ex: Harry (two adjacent R's) is fluent in Icelandic because R=I in the code. Rule Number 2: If the 2 identical letters are not adjacent, then the fluency will be in a language that starts with the reverse letter of the first initial. Ex: Nadia (two non-adjacent A's) is fluent in Masaba because N=M. Man, I hope that's right! Such pressure... | ||
| Usmcfink (Usmcfink)
New member Username: Usmcfink Post Number: 306 Registered: 10-2008 |
This has been fun. Thanks! How about this: The worker's first initial indicates what languages he/she can speak based a reverse alphabet code. A=Z; B=Y; C=X; etc. The fluency of a particular language requires the presence of TWO of the same letter in the first name. However, in your crafty brilliance, there are two rules that apply in that case. Number 1: If the 2 letters are adjacent, then the fluency is a language from the reverse of the double letters. Ex: Harry (two adjacent R's) is fluent in Icelandic because R=I in the code. Rule Number 2: If the 2 identical letters are not adjacent, then the fluency will be in a language that starts with the reverse letter of the first initial. Ex: Nadia (two non-adjacent A's) is fluent in Masaba because N=M. Man, I hope that's right! Such pressure... You are SOOOO close! let me throw you another one that deals with the second rule, see if that helps =) Henry is fluent in Scottish Natalie is fluent in Mandarin Lets see if that is enough to write the alternate rule of fluency! | ||
| Kaygee (Kaygee)
New member Username: Kaygee Post Number: 67 Registered: 9-2008 |
Huh? Now I am lost again. (btw, little Miss Natalie - her, I like! She fits into MY rule of fluency. But Henry - him, I don't like! Messed me up!) Does the second rule of fluency have anything to do with the presence of two or more letters? or the position of two or more letters? | ||
| Usmcfink (Usmcfink)
New member Username: Usmcfink Post Number: 310 Registered: 10-2008 |
Huh? Now I am lost again. (btw, little Miss Natalie - her, I like! She fits into MY rule of fluency. But Henry - him, I don't like! Messed me up!) Heh =) Does the second rule of fluency have anything to do with the presence of two or more letters? or the position of two or more letters? neither | ||
| Kaygee (Kaygee)
New member Username: Kaygee Post Number: 69 Registered: 9-2008 |
Does the second rule of fluency have anything to do with the letter(s) in the language that he or she speaks? | ||
| Usmcfink (Usmcfink)
New member Username: Usmcfink Post Number: 311 Registered: 10-2008 |
Does the second rule of fluency have anything to do with the letter(s) in the language that he or she speaks? yes or yesish - it is part of the rule | ||
| Kaygee (Kaygee)
New member Username: Kaygee Post Number: 72 Registered: 9-2008 |
Maybe I am off track here. So let me take a run at it again: Is Henry fluent in all languages that start with the letter "S"? or just specific languages that start with "S"? Is Nadia fluent in all languages that start with the letter "M"? or just specific languages that start with "M"? | ||
| Usmcfink (Usmcfink)
New member Username: Usmcfink Post Number: 317 Registered: 10-2008 |
Maybe I am off track here. So let me take a run at it again: Is Henry fluent in all languages that start with the letter "S"? or just specific languages that start with "S"? Is Nadia fluent in all languages that start with the letter "M"? or just specific languages that start with "M"? The answer to both is only specific languages that start with the letters you identified. | ||
| Kaygee (Kaygee)
New member Username: Kaygee Post Number: 74 Registered: 9-2008 |
Ah-ha! So that explains the vague reference on Evan. Not counting the basic rule about the first initials, am I looking for "something" in the person's name only? Or their name in conjunction with the language? | ||
| Usmcfink (Usmcfink)
New member Username: Usmcfink Post Number: 318 Registered: 10-2008 |
Ah-ha! So that explains the vague reference on Evan. Not counting the basic rule about the first initials, am I looking for "something" in the person's name only? Or their name in conjunction with the language? this one | ||
| Kaygee (Kaygee)
New member Username: Kaygee Post Number: 80 Registered: 9-2008 |
Henry is fluent in Scottish because the the double T's in the language? | ||
| Usmcfink (Usmcfink)
New member Username: Usmcfink Post Number: 328 Registered: 10-2008 |
Henry is fluent in Scottish because the the double T's in the language? Nope, not this. | ||
| Kaygee (Kaygee)
New member Username: Kaygee Post Number: 99 Registered: 9-2008 |
Hello...Happy New Year! I am sorry that it looks like I was ignoring you...I was hoping that someone else would step in and ask some questions! So, back to the basics... Is the second rule of fluency dependent on a letter appearing twice in the name of the language? Is Sandra REALLY fluent in Hebrew? (see posts on December 17) | ||
| Usmcfink (Usmcfink)
New member Username: Usmcfink Post Number: 345 Registered: 10-2008 |
Hey happy new year to you too! Don't worry about not posting right away. I'm always out doing something - coming back from NYC and posting from my phone now in fact. iphone can't copy/paste so I developed a mpc formula in my new puzzle. Look it over and shoot me some feedback! 11 no 12 yes. You know that it is dependent on reverse lettering. Find the key letter, uncode one more similar thread and you're there. Hint: try saying them aloud. | ||
| Kaygee (Kaygee)
New member Username: Kaygee Post Number: 112 Registered: 9-2008 |
Yeah, I saw your new puzzle on the forum. Be careful out there! Is it your job to keep the driver awake? If I say it aloud, I hear that the name and the language have the same number of syllables? | ||
| Usmcfink (Usmcfink)
New member Username: Usmcfink Post Number: 347 Registered: 10-2008 |
Mpc Hah thanks, there are 3 of us, my shift is over, I'm neither driver of navigator right now! *****************SPOILER***************** grats kaygee! Yes, the second rule is that to be fluent you could also/or have the same first reverse letter AND the same number of syllables. Thanks to all who played and a special thanks to kaygee for finalizing the solution! See my new puzzles, they are from my trip to NYC and more are coming. Actually, kaygee, for winning I'm giving you the key to unlock my next puzzle. To unlock it to the forum you must write 20363055032430 in response to the question posed in my unwriten post "quartz" Adiós! |
