What Whistled Speech Tells Us About How the Brain Interprets Language

Whistle languages are complex communication systems found globally, often in remote areas. They adapt local spoken languages into whistles, allowing communication over long distances. These languages challenge traditional views of brain processing, as they engage both hemispheres, unlike spoken languages which are left-brain dominant. Studies, such as those on Sealbow and Turkish whistle languages, reveal that whistle languages use musical cues, affecting how the brain processes them. This suggests language comprehension is more complex than previously thought, involving diverse cues and brain regions.

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