Exploring Silbo Canario: The Whistle Language from the Canary Islands

Can I Hold a 30-Minute Conversation in My Languages? Not Exactly…

I recently came across a question on X (formerly Twitter) that asked, “How many of your languages can you use to hold a conversation for at least 30 minutes?”

Wait, what?

I didn’t join the conversation, but it got me thinking about what my answer would be. And honestly? My answer is zero! Even though I speak a bit of Italian and French, I’d be faking it in Italian, checking my watch every 90 seconds, hoping the 30 minutes would fly by. As for French? I wouldn’t even stand a chance.

Communicating your thoughts in a second language is tough. I think we all know this deep down. Sure, reading a newspaper article or scrolling through social media posts with subtitles is doable. Maybe you’ve even memorized the lyrics to your favorite song. But having a real conversation in a language you don’t practice often? That’s a whole other level of difficulty.

On Speaking Tongues, I’ve had the utmost pleasure of talking to many guests who don’t speak English as their first language. I’m immensely grateful to all of them because I know how challenging it can be to express complex thoughts and emotions in a language that’s not your first—or even your favorite. And I’m particularly proud of those who’ve told me they felt nervous about their English (even though they all did amazing!). I know how scary it can be to speak a second language in front of a native speaker—remind me to tell you about my first French language exchange sometime!

One guest who really stood out to me was Gara from the Canary Islands. She spoke to me in English about Silbo Canario, the unique whistling language of the Canary Islands. Let me tell you how this episode came to be.

Earlier this year, I had an amazing conversation with Eukene Franco Landa, a PhD student in Miami, about her Basque heritage, language, and culture. Eukene focuses her research on minority languages, and I loved learning from her through our chat. For a while, I had been thinking about featuring Silbo Canario on the podcast, but I wasn’t sure who to talk to—and more importantly, how I would meet someone. I asked Eukene if she knew anyone, and through her network, that’s how I met Gara.

In Episode 148 of Speaking Tongues, Gara took us through the world of Silbo Canario, a fascinating whistling language from the Canary Islands. UNESCO has recognized it as an intangible cultural heritage, which is pretty cool.

Silbo Canario was originally used by the Guanches, the indigenous people of the Canary Islands, who migrated from North Africa. This language was perfect for the island’s mountainous terrain, as whistling carried short messages over long distances. It’s tonal, turning words into whistled sounds that make sense through context.

Gara shared some history with us, too. The first recorded mention of Silbo Canario was by Jean de Béthencourt during the Spanish conquest of the islands. Over time, the use of Silbo Canario declined, especially as urbanization took hold. But now, there’s a resurgence in interest, with efforts to preserve this amazing part of Canary Island culture.

One really interesting thing Gara pointed out is how adaptable Silbo Canario is. You can actually whistle in any language, including English! It’s a testament to the ingenuity of the Guanches and their ability to adapt their communication to the environment.

While Gara is still learning Silbo Canario, she shared a few basic whistles with us during the episode. I’m gonna let you guys in on a little secret: I’m a long-time podcaster, but not exactly a pro, and when we recorded, her whistles didn’t come through clearly. Thanks to editing and voice notes in WhatsApp, Gara was able to rerecord her whistles loud and clear for me to replace in the final episode.

We also talked about how Silbo Canario compares to other whistling languages, like those found in the Atlas Mountains of Morocco and parts of Turkey. These languages came about in regions where people needed to communicate quickly across vast and rugged terrains.

Gara and I also touched on the unique aspects of Canarian Spanish. The dialect incorporates words from Portuguese, English, and indigenous Guanche languages, reflecting the Canary Islands’ diverse history. For example, the word “guagua” (bus) comes from Cuban Spanish, and “millo” (corn) is borrowed from Portuguese.

It’s people like Gara who keep these cultural treasures alive for future generations, and her passion is so inspiring. If you haven’t yet, check out this episode on YouTube by clicking the link below! Don’t forget to subscribe, like, and comment on the video!

A Little Note from Me

Now, I have to mention something fun that happened recently. United Airlines started offering nonstop flights from the NYC area to Tenerife. That might have been what sparked my imagination and led me to this conversation with Gara. Around the same time, I heard a song called Silbo by a French singer, Feloche, which includes whistling in the background. How fun is that?

So, now I’m thinking about visiting Tenerife. But first things first—I need to learn some Spanish. The last time I was in Spain, I barely spoke a word of Spanish, and it definitely held me back. Same story when I visited Argentina. I’m starting Spanish lessons next month, and I’m both excited and a little nervous!