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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

#111

Post by PebblesRox »

calvinmorrison wrote: post #62
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.

I whistle at my SO all the time in the grocery store etc. Nobody else does it so if we're a few aisles apart usually i can just do the whistle and then we find eachother. Beats yelling like a moron

My mom had a special whistle she'd use to call us when it was time to come back to her at the store or wherever. Now I'm wondering how she got started with that.

Re: More than eighty cultures still speak in whistles

#114

Post by thirdlamp »

jbluepolarbear wrote: post #36
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 finge…

I can do the 3rd one too but it’s not very loud.

Re: More than eighty cultures still speak in whistles

#115

Post by AlwaysRock »

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

Some things are harder to learn later in life.

Re: More than eighty cultures still speak in whistles

#116

Post by AlwaysRock »

mypastself wrote: post #60
akiselev wrote: post #48

Earlier quoted context omitted.

> I’m having trouble finding the exact link at the moment, but it starts with slowly breathing out the letter “Q”. Thank you! That tip was all I needed to figure it out :)

Ha, glad to be of help!

Holy shit. I tried for about 5 minutes this morning by breathing out Q and I can whistle now. Damn thank you.

Re: More than eighty cultures still speak in whistles

#117

Post by xj9 »

newsbinator wrote: post #72
xj9 wrote: post #68

Earlier quoted context omitted.

more language diversity is more fun. common languages are boring. folks should learn more languages, rather than less. its good for your brain too. here's to another babel moment!

Learning a lot of complicated things is good for your brain, like programming in various languages or playing various musical instruments. It's fun too. But having a multilingual globe comes at a massive, immeasurable cost. One of the greatest forces to improve economic opportunity and equality in the history of the world would be if everybody suddenly agreed on one simple, terse, expressive human language and switch…

let's agree to disagree here. my ideal world is probably a lot messier than you'd be happy with considering.

Re: More than eighty cultures still speak in whistles

#118

Post by newsbinator »

InitialLastName wrote: post #93
newsbinator wrote: post #72

Earlier quoted context omitted.

Learning a lot of complicated things is good for your brain, like programming in various languages or playing various musical instruments. It's fun too. But having a multilingual globe comes at a massive, immeasurable cost. One of the greatest forces to improve economic opportunity and equality in the history of the world would be if everybody suddenly agreed on one simple, terse, expressive human language and switch…

> one simple, terse, expressive human language I suspect this is one of those "pick two, at best" situations.

Not necessarily! Some version of Indonesian written in Hangul would probably fit the bill.

Re: More than eighty cultures still speak in whistles

#119

Post by abdupattoh »

mypastself wrote: post #16
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 actually did, from a Reddit thread that guided me through the process step by step. I’m having trouble finding the exact link at the moment, but it starts with slowly breathing out the letter “Q”. It’s not a loud, booming sound or anything, but I went from blowing soundless air for 20-odd years to actually whistling.

I tried to do that and I puffed out of two places in my body at once and got a questioning look from my wife. My advice is don't try this at home.
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