Whistled language is adapted to the structure and language of the area; whistled language found in Turkish-speaking, rural Turkey will be different from that of the Spanish-speaking communities of the countryside of Mexico. Whistled language is based on words and phrases, condensing each word syllable by syllable. This, in combination with sound iconicity, or the relationship between the signal and its meaning, conveys meaning.

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Within the Mazatec community, pitch and tone play an important role in conveying meaning with a particular whistle, likely due to regionality and native language. Dialects differ between villages, demonstrating the importance of spoken vocabulary, contact with other languages, and experiences in a whistles structure and meaning. Whistled words or phrases have direct translations, corresponding with specific spoken word.  Community members can have a conversation full of depth using whistles alone.