UNESCO has officially added yodeling to its list of 'Intangible Cultural Heritage'

"There are some variations. So we know yodeling with text. But we have also - mostly we have yodeling without text, and this yodel we call naturjodel. And this kind of yodel works like dialects. So it depends on the region you grow up. So if you grew up in eastern part, it sounds very melancholic. When you grow up in middle part, center part of Switzerland, it's quite loud and sometimes also a little bit fast."

"Actually, it can be both. So it - we do it on stages. We entertain with yodel, of course, but it's also to show your feelings. There are seven reasons how the yodel is founded, and one is also that we show the feelings with the yodel. But it's also that we can show the movements of the mountains. Or you can use the yodel, also, for to call the cows, for example."

UNESCO recognized yodeling as an intangible cultural heritage of humanity. Yodeling functions in Switzerland as a singing 'fifth language' alongside four spoken languages. Distinct regional styles exist, including yodeling with lyrics and naturjodel, a wordless form that functions like dialects. Eastern Swiss yodels tend to sound melancholic, while central Swiss yodels are loud and sometimes fast. Yodeling serves multiple purposes: stage entertainment, expression of feelings, depiction of mountain movements, and practical uses such as calling cows. Traditional frameworks describe multiple reasons for yodeling's functions within Swiss culture.

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