Northern Turkey’s whistled bird language on the brink of extinction

ANKARA: The United Nations cultural agency recently called on for the urgent protection of “bird language” spoken by the people in northern Turkey and the inclusion of it in the endangered part of world heritage.

Famous in the Black Sea region of the country, the whistled bird language has been recognized by UNESCO to become a part of the "List of Intangible Cultural Heritage in Need of Urgent Safeguarding".

The distinct language is 400 years’ old and is used by 10,000 people to communicate over long distances. Hence, the need for its preservation has become exceedingly important before it is lost forever, which is exactly what UNESCO fears.

The move has been welcomed by the Turkey’s Culture Minister Numan Kurtulmus as well as the residents of Kuskoy – one of the places where the language is commonly used.

“UNESCO is an advantage for us. It makes us happy to see this treasure of ours isn’t fading away,” shares Mehmat Kocek, a Kuskoy resident.

Although Kuskoy makes efforts by cherishing the language as far as possible through annual Bird Language Festival and the teaching of it at primary school level, the need for its protection by UNESCO was move deemed necessary.