World Scholar's Cup - The Pwaa Phenomenon

The Pwaa Phenomenon

Another common occurrence during World Scholar's Cup tournaments is the echoing of the word "pwaa". "Pwaa," explains Berdichevsky, "is the sound that a happy alpaca makes!"

Often used as an interjection or a response to a statement, this onomatopoeia has become a sensation among World Scholar's Cup participants. It may also be used in a call-and-response format, as demonstrated by staff members at many competitions. Oftentimes, staff members will call out the word and find themselves echoed by hundreds of students. The word has also made appearances in Facebook statuses, and at the 2011 Global Round in Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia, Deputy Prime Minister of Higher Education in Malaysia Dr. Hou Kok Chung Saifuddin Abdullah used it during his closing remarks.

Students admit to using the word in an attempt to communicate with animals, and many claim positive responses.