Multilingual-Tile Word Games

Abstract

In a set of multilingual tiles, each tile bears a first character of a first language and also bears a second character of a second language. Tiles are positioned by players of a game, to form words in an inherently multilingual educational and entertainment experience. Tile characters are not mere transliterations of one another. The characters on a given tile may have different spatial orientations. Sometimes each player can make words only in one language, and different players try to make words in different languages. Sometimes a player gains points for words made in a language that is not the player's native language, and loses points for words made in a language that is the player's native language. Extra points may be awarded if tiles form multiple words in multiple languages, or if tiles form related words, namely, synonyms and/or antonyms.

1 - 20 . (canceled) 
     
     
         21 . A device comprising:
 a set of multilingual tiles, including a plurality of tiles each of which has a character means for supporting multilingual game play, the character means comprising a first character of a first language and a second character of a second language, in which the second character is not a transliteration of the first character; and   a board;   wherein the multilingual tiles and the board are compatible in that they permit positioning of selected tiles to form words.   
     
     
         22 . The device of claim  1 , in which the languages are Japanese and English. 
     
     
         23 . The device of claim  1 , in which at least some of the tiles are positioned such that the words interlock and every sequence of adjacent tiles in the positioned tiles forms a word in at least one of the languages. 
     
     
         24 . The device of claim  1 , in which at least some of the tiles are positioned such that the words are located in a grid of adjacent positioned tiles which also includes character sequences that are not accepted (e.g., in the chosen dictionary or approved by the opposing player) as a word in at least one of the languages. 
     
     
         25 . The device of claim  1 , in which the multilingual tiles and the board are non-digital. 
     
     
         26 . The device of claim  1 , in which at least some of the character means for supporting multilingual game play each include multiple spaced-apart characters per language for at least one of the languages. 
     
     
         27 . The device of claim  1 , in which at least some of the character means for supporting multilingual game play each include multiple spaced-apart characters that are not mere transliterations or near-transliterations of one another. 
     
     
         28 . The device of claim  1 , in which at least some of the character means for supporting multilingual game play each include multiple spaced-apart characters that share a phonetic characteristic. 
     
     
         29 . The device of claim  1 , in which at least some of the character means for supporting multilingual game play evidence a cross-language correspondence based on character frequency. 
     
     
         30 . The device of claim  1 , in which at least some of the character means for supporting multilingual game play each include characters which have different spatial orientations from one another. 
     
     
         31 . The device of  claim 21  in the form of a computer system, wherein the multilingual tiles include digital multilingual tiles, the board includes a digital board, and the device further comprises:
 a logical processor; 
 a memory in operable communication with the logical processor; and 
 game code residing in the memory and having data and instructions configured to cause processor(s) to move the digital multilingual tiles into arrangements on the digital board.