Editing Whistled language (section)

=== Culture ===
In some cases (e.g. Chinantec) the whistled speech is an important and integral part of the language and culture; in others (e.g. Nahuatl) its role is much lesser. Whistled speech may be very central and highly valued in a culture. Shouting is very rare in [[Sochiapam Chinantec]]. Men in that culture are subject to being fined if they do not handle whistle-speech well enough to perform certain town jobs. They may whistle for fun in situations where spoken speech could easily be heard.<ref>{{Cite web |title=Sochiapam Chinantec Whistle Speech {{!}} SIL Mexico |url=https://mexico.sil.org/language_culture/chinantecan/sochiapam/sochiapam_whistle |access-date=2023-05-25 |website=mexico.sil.org}}</ref> 

In [[Sochiapam]], [[Oaxaca]], and other places in Mexico, and reportedly in West and Southern Africa as well (specifically among the VhaVenda), whistled speech is men's language: although women may understand it, they do not use it.

Though whistled languages are not secret [[code (cryptography)|codes]] or [[language game|secret languages]] (with the exception of a whistled language used by [[ñañigos]] [[Insurgency|insurgencies]] in [[Cuba]] during [[History of Cuba#Conquest of Cuba|Spanish occupation]]),<ref name=Busnel1976/> they may be used for secretive communication among outsiders or others who do not know or understand the whistled language though they may understand its spoken origin. Stories are told of farmers in Aas during [[World War II]], or in La Gomera, who were able to hide evidence of such nefarious activities as milk-watering because they were warned in whistle-speech that the police were approaching.<ref name=Busnel1976/>