The whistled language of La Gomera
June 9, 2021
La Gomera is the second-smallest of the Canary Islands. The volcanic island, which like all the Canary Islands is part of Spain, is geographically small with a length of only 22 kilometers (13.6 mi) and a width of 25 kilometers (15.5 mi). But if you think that means you can travel quickly between places, then you're mistaken. La Gomera consists mainly of high mountains and deep gorges, with countless serpentine roads winding through the island's rugged landscape. It’s no surprise, then, that a special form of communication has developed here: the whistling language called Silbo Gomero.
Communicating from mountaintop to mountaintop
At a time when cell phones or even landlines were still a long way off, messages could be conveyed across deep valleys and information exchanged by using whistles. Even the indigenous people of the island are thought to have communicated this way. And while similar whistling languages have almost died out in other regions of Europe, the tradition is kept alive on La Gomera. For around 20 years, Silbo Gomero has been taught as a compulsory subject in all schools on the island. And since 2009, the language has been listed as an UNESCO Intangible Cultural Heritage. The communication system is made up of only six whistle sounds: four consonants and two vowels. But that doesn't mean it is easy, as an astonishing amount of around 4,000 terms can be covered with this limited range of sounds, depending on sequence, volume and pitch. The precise meaning of a message is usually revealed through its context.
Back to school for whistling lessons
DW reporter Hendrik Welling found out during his stay on La Gomera how difficult it is to learn even the basics of the whistling language. For the series "Europe to the Maxx" on DW's lifestyle and culture magazine "Euromaxx," he wanted to find out more about this special tradition. During his visit to the Canary Island, he met with real Silbo Gomero professionals and even went back to school. Find out in our video whether he was able to communicate by whistling at the end of his trip.
When conditions are good, the whistles can be heard from up to three kilometers away. Many islanders to this day use the language regularly. They can even identify the person with whom they are communicating by the sound of their whistle: just like the human voice, each person's whistle is unique. Silbo Gomero is a cultural relic that not only has a past, but also a future, thanks to school lessons on La Gomera.
Service tips:
Address: La Gomera, Canary Islands, Spain
Getting there: By plane to Tenerife South, then by bus to Los Cristianos; from there the ferry departs to La Gomera
Special tip: In the Garajonay National Park in the center of the island, at the Mirador de Igualero viewing point, there's a memorial to Silbo Gomero. The modern sculpture symbolizes a whistling islander
The accompanying book
Europe at its most extreme: The series "Europe to the Maxx" on DW's lifestyle and culture magazine Euromaxx makes Europe's superlatives experienceable — from extraordinary architecture to spectacular landscapes to unique cultural phenomena. Accompanying the series, the book 111 Extreme Places in Europe That You Shouldn't Miss was published in cooperation with Emons Verlag. It is an alternative travel guide, both informative and entertaining, for avid travelers, fans of Europe and anyone who likes to show off with unusual pub quiz trivia. Full of guaranteed record breakers!