Editing Whistled language (section)

== Definition ==
A whistled language is a system of whistled communication which allows fluent whistlers to transmit and comprehend a potentially unlimited number of messages over long distances. Whistled languages are different in this respect from free associative whistling, which may be done to simulate music, to attract attention, or, in the case of herders or animal trainers, to transmit simple messages or instructions to animal companions. Generally, whistled languages emulate the [[Tone (linguistics)|tones]] or vowel [[formant]]s of a natural spoken language, as well as aspects of its [[Intonation (linguistics)|intonation]] and [[prosody (linguistics)|prosody]], so that trained listeners who speak that language can understand the encoded message.

Whistled language is rare compared to spoken language, but it is found in cultures around the world.<ref>{{cite web |date=30 November 2018 |title=History of Whistled Languages |url=https://blog.pimsleur.com/2018/11/30/whistled-languages-ultimate-guide-long-distance-conversations |website=Pimsleur.com}}</ref> It is especially common in [[tone languages]] where the whistled tones transmit the tones of the syllables (tone melodies of the words). This might be because in tone languages the tone melody carries more of the [[functional load]] of communication while non-tonal phonology carries proportionally less. The genesis of a whistled language has never been recorded in either case and has not yet received much productive study.