Language without speech is perceived as something incomprehensible, but throughout history, people have found different ways to communicate with each other. In fact, we are all familiar with some methods. Take the same Morse code, examples of which we often see in films or military programs. Or sign language used by the deaf and hard of hearing for everyday communication on the street or in the family. But there are many other unusual languages.
Sign language may be the most common non-spoken language, but in fact there are hundreds, or even thousands. One has only to think about any way of communication or making noise without talking. Somewhere on Earth there are already languages of drumming, buzzing, whistling or tapping. Let's get acquainted with the ten most interesting non-spoken languages in the world.
10 unusual languages that are not related to speaking:
1
Silbo Homero
The only sound that can clearly spread through the narrow gorges and valleys of the island of Homer is a whistle. Screams and words are greatly distorted by the echo, and the whistle reaches the interlocutor. 22,000 people living in the Canary Islands speak a unique whistling language. This is a kind of Spanish, which is translated into a whistle.
Locals live at a great distance from each other. Everything around is surrounded by gorges and mountains. Sounds are perfectly transmitted from a distance. Residents of the island can talk to each other over a distance of 3 or more kilometers. They have been using this method since the 6th century.
Silbo Gomero's whistling language has about 4,000 words that echo across valleys and rocks, creating a unique atmosphere. Now this amazing language is dying. Only the older generation uses it in communication. To preserve it, the island authorities are introducing the study of the whistling language in schools.
In this video you can see and hear the conversation in this beautiful language.
2
Sefiriya
The next language is also whistling, but even more surprising than Silbo Gomero. It is called the Sefiriya. He is already about 2,500 years old and no more than 10 people in the world can speak it. They all live in the small village of Antia, which is located on the island of Euboea, Greece.
Initially, the language of the Sefiriya was used as a warning of an imminent danger or attack by pirates. Since the island is far enough away, they learned about it only in 1969 by accident after the plane crash. People noticed that locals communicate by whistling. When studying the language, it turned out that the Sefiriya has a complex structure, vocabulary and grammar. Only more than a hundred people live on the island, and only six of them speak the language now. Therefore, the Sefiriya is in danger of extinction.
3
Knocking POWs
Silence can also be compelled. American prisoners of war in Vietnam created their own knocking system, which helped them communicate with each other. The system was similar to Morse code, but differed in device. Certain knocks denoted letters, which then formed into words and sentences. So prisoners could just wish good morning or good night, and they could also convey information about interrogations and dangers.
By the way, on thebiggest.ru you can see the most terrible prisons in the world.
4
Khoisan snapping tongue
Tourists in African countries have always been greatly surprised at the rare language that uses clicks. This is a mixture of language and clicks that replace most consonants in speech. Khoisan languages are a whole group of languages. Many dialects are already dying out, but in some regions of Tanzania and Kalahara you can meet people who communicate using clicks and sounds.
5
Damin
Daming is also a clicking language that is found in Australia. It is the only language of its kind found outside the African continent. It was spoken by the Lardil tribe, which inhabits Northern Australia. There is currently no evidence of its existence. The last time language was used in the 1970s was during the rite of passage to initiation into men.
6
Hmong's wheezing tongue
An interesting Hmong people live in the foothills of the Himalayas. If you are in these places, you can hear a whistle that resembles the singing of birds. With such a melodic whistle, the Hmongs communicate with each other. Amazing sounds add up to slender sentences that are transmitted up to 8 kilometers away. The BBC channel describes this language in this way: “Young guys in the evenings walk past houses and whistle their beloved poems and wishes. If the girl answers the guy, then they begin to flirt with each other. "
7
Monastic Sign Language
The monks spend their whole lives in the monastery in prayer and humility. Often they make a vow of silence as a sign of devotion to God. The monks get together and they want to talk. But how to do that? That is how the sign language of the monks was created in the 10th century? With the help of which the monks could communicate with each other without breaking the vow of silence.
In the monastic sign language, only the most necessary words for everyday communication. Moreover, the language may differ depending on the monastery. This language is used today. And about the most common languages of the world on thebiggest there is a very interesting article.
8
Pirahan
In the Amazon rainforests there are a lot of unusual and wild tribes with unusual languages. Of particular note is the Pirahan tribe with its own language. It is very simple in design. It has only 8 vowels and 3 consonants. Since there are very few letters, the members of the tribe add a lot of sounds and tonal colors to them. One lingering sound can mean one thing, a shorter one can mean the other. Because of this, their language becomes similar to the songs they sing to each other. Also in the language of pirah there are no numbers, which makes it even more unique and interesting.
9
Bedouin Sign Language
The most common sign language is considered to be American, which is used by all deaf and dumb people around the world. In fact, there are many sign languages in the world. Many of them were created in small communities and tribes and did not go beyond the boundaries of one settlement or nationality.
These include the Bedouin tribe Al-Said. Their number is only about 3,000 people. In their settlement there are a lot of hard of hearing people. This is due to a genetic disease that comes from the leader of the tribe. To communicate without problems, the Bedouins of Al Saeed have developed their own unique sign language.
Now in the tribe more than five percent of the population are deaf and dumb. This is about 150 people out of 3 thousand. In the US, this figure is only 0.1% of the total. Thebiggest did not find information on the percentage of deaf people in Russia, but we know that there are a little more than 0.1% of deaf people in the Russian Federation.
The unique language of the Bedouin tribe has become a true second language, which is spoken by all members of the tribe because of necessity. So the deaf and dumb in the Al-Said tribe communicate on equal terms with everyone, marry non-deaf, give birth to children, are considered full members of society.
10
Talking drum
Some non-speaking languages served as a form of secret communication. In West Africa, for many centuries, drums have been used for communication, especially during the slave trade. "Talking drum" was made in the form of an hourglass with tight threads on the sides. The drum player could copy speech and tone. So abducted people could communicate with each other secretly at a great distance. Side cords were used to separate statements and sentences. And in our time, African drums are able to convey the emotions and spirit of a hot continent through music.
Finally
Concluding our list of unusual languages that are not related to speaking, we want to ask you to comment on this article. Write about other interesting languages of the world that should be included in this list. TheBiggest.ru is waiting for feedback from you.