【趣谈英语】吹哨也是门语言艺术-The Language Of Whistling

Not all languages use words. In some parts of the world, people communicate by putting whistling. Silbo Gomero is an example of a whistling language. It is an ancient form of communication used in La Gomera, one of Spain’s Canary Islands. Long ago, when dwellings⁵ were spread far apart in these valleys, whistling was developed as a form of communication. Relaying a message through whistling was easier than walking to a friend or relative’s home. Neighbours often whistled to warn each other of dangers. While the language seemed to be dying out in the 1950s and 60s, Silbo Gomero experienced a revival in the 90s when it became a compulsory subject at schools in La Gomera. The simple language, which is based on Spanish, has two whistles for vowels⁶ and four whistles for consonants⁷. The length and tone of the whistles help convey the meaning. In 2009 UNESCO declared this unique language as a Masterpiece of the Oral and Intangible Heritage of Humanity.