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More than eighty cultures still speak in whistles

smithsonianmag.com

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Re: More than eighty cultures still speak in whistles

#31

Post by chestertn »

bradrn wrote: post #24
estebarb wrote: post #18

This is extremely cool!!! Also I find surprising that, as a Spanish speaker with no whistle-spanish training, I was able to understand most of the whistles.

Interesting! Spanish isn’t a tonal language, so how do you ‘translate’ the words into whistles? (And do you think you could do it without subtitles?) (I should note I haven’t actually managed to watch the video yet, because my audio seems to be broken. Perhaps it would be obvious if only I could hear the whistles…)

Spanish speaker here. Also surprised that I understand the whistles, in particular the second video.

Does it happen to you that when you think of a word in English, even if you don't vocalize, some of your vocal cords become tense or move? Well, these whistles feel the same.

Re: More than eighty cultures still speak in whistles

#32

Post by bradrn »

chestertn wrote: post #31
bradrn wrote: post #24

Earlier quoted context omitted.

Interesting! Spanish isn’t a tonal language, so how do you ‘translate’ the words into whistles? (And do you think you could do it without subtitles?) (I should note I haven’t actually managed to watch the video yet, because my audio seems to be broken. Perhaps it would be obvious if only I could hear the whistles…)

Spanish speaker here. Also surprised that I understand the whistles, in particular the second video. Does it happen to you that when you think of a word in English, even if you don't vocalize, some of your vocal cords become tense or move? Well, these whistles feel the same.

> when you think of a word in English, even if you don't vocalize, some of your vocal cords become tense or move

Oddly enough, I haven’t ever perceived this, but I can consciously trigger it, and I do think I understand what you mean.

Re: More than eighty cultures still speak in whistles

#33

Post by Teracotage »

In Syria, whistling has been essential to those hobbyists who raise birds, to communicate and command them "“Hemeimati (Pigeon fancier)” If you have ever visited Damascus and its countryside, Homs, Aleppo or any other Syrian city, you should have noticed swarms of pigeons hovering over the city, swaying right and left, up and down responding to the signs of a person standing on a roof.

This person would be carrying a long stick in his hand with a black or white piece of cloth on its tip, waving it, as if telling the flying swarm to fly higher or fly down towards him, often with a “whistle” https://english.enabbaladi.net/archives/2016/08/mysterious-w...

Re: More than eighty cultures still speak in whistles

#34

Post by onionisafruit »

AlwaysRock wrote: post #15

Anyone learn to whistle, in any way or form, later in life? I've always wanted to but never been able to. I've tried a few types of whistles. The closest I've gotten is some quasi duck calls using my hands and whistling with the help of an acorn.

I gradually lost the ability to whistle in my 30s. I never whistled very loud, but now it’s almost nothing.

Re: More than eighty cultures still speak in whistles

#35

Post by vanattab »

Dumblydorr wrote: post #29

I use whistling daily. I discovered my dog responds best to whistling, whenever he hears my whistle, he knows it's me and comes running. Now, I use that to my partner ironically, if I don't want to shout and hurt the vocal cords, just whistle and she knows her presence is requested.

>Now, I use that to my partner ironically, if I don't want to shout and hurt the vocal cords, just whistle and she knows her presence is requested.

Or you know... you COULD walk over to where she is.

Re: More than eighty cultures still speak in whistles

#36

Post by jbluepolarbear »

AlwaysRock wrote: post #15

Anyone learn to whistle, in any way or form, later in life? I've always wanted to but never been able to. I've tried a few types of whistles. The closest I've gotten is some quasi duck calls using my hands and whistling with the help of an acorn.

I can whistle 3 ways: the typical pucker you lips whistle, use your fingers whistle, and a third that I’ve only seen my brother and I do. For the third curl your upper lip towards your nose, bring the bottom lip up flat, move your tongue all the back and down, and try and direct the air into the split part of your inner upper lip. It’s a very loud piercing whistle that can be heard much farther than the typical finger whistle.

Re: More than eighty cultures still speak in whistles

#38

Post by dmoy »

Dumblydorr wrote: post #30
AlwaysRock wrote: post #15

Anyone learn to whistle, in any way or form, later in life? I've always wanted to but never been able to. I've tried a few types of whistles. The closest I've gotten is some quasi duck calls using my hands and whistling with the help of an acorn.

Here's how I whistle. Suck in your cheeks, like you're puckering for a kiss. Make sure the lips are a tad moist. Blow through the lip hole. It helps if you keep a tightness, or ambiture (sp?) which is how a horns or winds player would describe lip/cheek tightness. Inside, the tongue is resting against front teeth and a very light stream of abdominal air is supplying the whistle. Any luck?

> It helps if you keep a tightness, or ambiture (sp?) which is how a horns or winds player would describe lip/cheek tightness.

Yea I went from being a mediocre whistler to crazy good at it when I played wind instrument seriously for a decade. But that was decades ago so now I'm back to mediocrity.

Also the word you are looking for is "embouchure"

Re: More than eighty cultures still speak in whistles

#39

Post by Topgamer7 »

qnsi wrote: post #17
AlwaysRock wrote: post #15

Anyone learn to whistle, in any way or form, later in life? I've always wanted to but never been able to. I've tried a few types of whistles. The closest I've gotten is some quasi duck calls using my hands and whistling with the help of an acorn.

Curious, any reason why you think it might be different later in life? I think it just takes a lot of practice and patience

Don't forget that you have to repeatedly do it so much you feel like you're going to faint from lack of oxygen! Remember that when learning to whistle as a youngin :)
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