The Committee,
- Takes note that Spain has nominated Whistled language of the island of La Gomera (Canary Islands), the Silbo Gomero for inscription on the Representative List of the Intangible Cultural Heritage of Humanity, described as follows:
The whistled language of La Gomera Island in the Canaries, the Silbo Gomero, replicates the islanders’ habitual language (Castilian Spanish) with whistling. Handed down over centuries from master to pupil, it is the only whistled language in the world that is fully developed and practised by a large community (more than 22,000 inhabitants). The whistled language replaces each vowel or consonant with a whistling sound: two distinct whistles replace the five Spanish vowels, and there are four whistles for consonants. The whistles can be distinguished according to pitch and whether they are interrupted or continuous. With practice, whistlers can convey any message. Some local variations even point to their origin. Taught in schools since 1999, the Silbo Gomero is understood by almost all islanders and practised by the vast majority, particularly the elderly and the young. It is also used during festivities and ceremonies, including religious occasions. To prevent it from disappearing like the other whistled languages of the Canary Islands, it is important to do more for its transmission and promote the Silbo Gomero as intangible cultural heritage cherished by the inhabitants of La Gomera and the Canary Islands as a whole.
- Decides that, from the information provided in Nomination File 00172, Whistled language of the island of La Gomera (Canary Islands), the Silbo Gomero satisfies the criteria for inscription on the Representative List, as follows:
R.1: Silbo Gomero is widely practised by the inhabitants of the island of La Gomera who recognize it as their distinctive contribution to the cultural heritage of the other islands in the archipelago of the Canary Islands;
R.2: Its inscription on the Representative List would increase communities’ awareness and foster their efforts to preserve oral traditions and transmit them to coming generations;
R.3: The safeguarding measures described, especially the introduction of the language in schools as an educational discipline, are a guarantee for the protection and promotion of the whistle language of the Canary Islands, and are supported by a firm and sustainable commitment by the State and communities concerned;
R.4: The participation of the community in initiating educational programmes for Silbo Gomero and in supporting the nomination is complemented by evidence of their free, prior and informed consent;
R.5: The element is inscribed in the Inventory of Historical Heritage Properties of the Canary Islands, maintained by the Ministry for Education, Universities, Culture and Sport.
- Inscribes Whistled language of the island of La Gomera (Canary Islands), the Silbo Gomero on the Representative List of the Intangible Cultural Heritage of Humanity.