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The Spanish island that communicates by whistle
in the rugged crags of Barranco de Ávalo, a ravine on the small Canary Island of La Gomera, two local 12-year-olds were practicing their Silbo Gomero, the local whistling language. For an entrancing few minutes, Irún Castillo Perdomo and Angel Manuel Garcia Herrera's lilting warbles reverberated around the barren gorge and soared proudly into the air like eagles in flight.They were accompanied by 70-year-old retired Silbo Gomero teacher Eugenio Darias, whose grandfather used to own and work on this very same land. He told me that the boys' whistled conversation was similar to any they would have over text message or in the playground, but the focus was instead on the six differentiating sounds that make up La Gomera's protected whistle language.While it's true that most children their age would sooner pick up their phone and tap away, this small Canary Island invites them to think differently. Thanks to Darias, their threatened tongue has been a compulsory school subject since 1999 – and almost all 22,000 residents can understand it alongside their mother tongue of Canarian Spanish. "It's important to give students the idea that they can really use it if they need to, like other languages, but also that it's not necessary for everyday use," said Darias, who pioneered the Silbo Gomero learning programme. "Our aim is to give the whistle more importance so that the children can be confident using it together. Importantly, having the whistle protected within our compulsory curriculum prevents extinction altogether." Whistle languages, in varying guises, exist in as many as "70 places", according to local broadcast journalist Francisca Gonzalez Santana. "In Turkey, for example, the whistle began 500 years ago during the Ottoman Empire," she said. "It then spread to all regions of the Black Sea; and in Mexico, we can still find whistled communication in Spanish – Chinantec." Silbo Gomero, which is one of the most studied whistling languages and was officially declared an Intangible Cultural Heritage by Unesco in 2009, uses six condensed sounds to communicate. Two differentiating whistles replace the five spoken vowels in Spanish, while just four replace the 22 consonants. Whistlers elongate or shorten the sounds to mimic the words.Several whistling methods exist on the island, though perhaps the most traditional is demonstrated by local sculptor José Darías. His Whistling Tree sculpture at Mirador de Igualero, a viewpoint in Vallehermoso overlooking a ravine where Silbo Gomero was most active, shows how the index finger should be bent and placed inside the mouth while whistling with an open palm beside it to amplify the sound. Experienced whistlers use different finger methods and can often tell who is calling by the whistle's "accent" alone – but most whistlers will introduce themselves and call the recipient's name. When the message is understood, they whistle back "bueno bueno". Short and simple indeed.
By NANNIE FRANCES5 years ago in Wander
Olympics Venue that is Being used Today
The Olympics is the most popular sporting event to watch on TV, but did you know they are still being used? Some of them have been renovated to become something else. Here are seven venues across the world that you did know were Olympics stadiums.
By Shahjehan Khan 5 years ago in Wander
Dining out in Sydney | Best Places to Visit
There are tens and thousands of good restaurants in Sydney and a bunch of average ones maybe. This makes it a difficult task for most of us while deciding a place to dine out in the city. We have a few handpicked suggestions for those who love eating out regularly in the city. Because, we know you’ll run out of names and places.
By Evelyn Adam5 years ago in Wander
Truck Accident Prevention: Tips for Truckers and Drivers
Barreling down the highway at 60 mph, pulling 80,000 pounds of cargo would seem intimidating for a motorist. However, for truckers, it is all in a day's work. Truck drivers take many precautions to ensure a safe trip. Nevertheless, despite these efforts, traffic accidents are unfortunately still common.
By D. Miller & Associates, PLLC5 years ago in Wander
Seoul. Seoul. Seoul. So Good I had to go Back Three Times!
Intro I lived in South Korea for a year and a half. During this time I made three wonderful and very different trips to Seoul. Each time I was trying to soak up yet another exciting aspect of the city. I could visit another 100 times and not see everything. It’s enormous and vibrant and has so much to offer!
By Sh*t Happens - Lost Girl Travel5 years ago in Wander
Ramsey Island, Wales
Ramsey Island lies one mile off the Pembrokeshire coast (southwest Wales) and is a nature lover’s paradise due to its careful preservation and management by the RSPB (Royal Society for the Protection of Birds). It is uninhabited by humans apart from the RSPB wardens and a small volunteer staff, and access is carefully controlled to ensure minimal disturbance to the island’s extensive wildlife.
By John Welford5 years ago in Wander
Best National Parks for Wildlife Photography
Do you want to get into wildlife photography but not sure where to start? There’s nothing better than wildlife watching and wildlife photography at one of the best national parks in the US. You can make the most of the experience with the best camera for wildlife photography and wildlife photography tips from the experts.
By Untamed Photographer5 years ago in Wander
Jonesville, South Carolina: One of America's Most Romantic Getaways
Do you like romance? Well, probably if you are reading this article! I ask because, this next town we are showcasing here today with America's Most Romantic Getaways is one that will BLOW YOU AWAY! I mean, this place is so romantic, it's straight up dangerous. If you like romance enough, unless you live in a substantially romantic location, you may want to never leave, and end up becoming a resident of this fast growing town. Of course, I am talking about the incorrigible Jonesville, South Carolina.
By Regular Person5 years ago in Wander
About Kedarnath Dham
Devotees all over India have not been able to visit places of worship for a long time, but now with the government allowing them to open, many would be thronging these places. India is a country that has many temples dedicated to the many gods that are worshipped, and among the more prominent ones is the Kedarnath Temple.Also Read - Legend of Badrinath Temple: As Shrines Reopen Post COVID-19 Lockdown, Here's More History on The Famous Religious Place
By prateek thakur5 years ago in Wander
