Language that do not need speaking

For centuries, one sound has been a constant presence down the narrow volcanic ridges and valleys of the island of La Gomera—whistling. That’s because the 22,000 people who live here are unique in the Canary Islands archipelago, bilingual in Spanish and Silbo Gomero, a whistled version of the Spanish language that has allowed locals to communicate with each other from distances of over 3 kilometers (1.9 mi) away since the 16th century.[1]Using the natural formations of the small, circular volcanic island, the whistled language of 4,000 words echoes up and down La Gomera, creating a truly unique and somewhat ethereal atmosphere. Many on the island understand the language, and most of the older inhabitants are fluent, but with the looming threat of Silbo Gomero’s extinction over the past few years, the local government now requires that all children learn it in school, helping to revitalize the language and keep the island whistling.