In whistled language or Turkish bird language (also called kuş dili), high-pitched whistles and melodies are used to communicate. The complexity of whistled language comprehension depends on equal activation of the right and left hemispheres of the brain.
Known as the whistled language, this communication system uses the sound of whistling to simulate and articulate words. The language was originally used to communicate over large distances by Turkish farmers, but is now used by only 10,000 people and is related to the village of Kusköy in Turkey's northern Pontic Mountains.
The language dates back 400 years, but its origin is unclear. It evolved as a result of the steep mountains and rugged topography of the region, which forced the local population to find another means of communication across long distances. In agricultural communities, this practice is used by those who spend their lives in the open. They consider this to be a key part of their cultural identity, which strengthens interpersonal communication and solidarity.
Although the community is aware that this practice is important, socioeconomic changes and technological advancements have led to a decline in the number of practitioners and areas where it is spoken.
Kuşköy is a farming village with a deep valley, meaning that whistles can travel further and be heard more clearly than yelling. When the villagers started to get their hands on cellphones, this made communication a lot easier and more efficient. As a very rural farming village, Kuşköy does not provide many different employment and lifestyle opportunities. For this reason, many young people leave the village in search of a better life.
In spite of such threats, in 2014 the district authorities started teaching the whistled language at the primary school levels. Since then, the communities have worked hard to promote this linguistic practice both nationally and internationally, through festivals, to ensure its sustainability.
There are currently two immersion programs that teach the whistled language. The class also teaches the anatomy of the mouth needed to perform this language. Once students had mastered the language, they could then go ahead to communicate with it.