SPEAK OCEANESE
There’s more than one
way to say hello.
Different friends. Different moves. Everyone can join in!
What is Oceanese?
Oceanese is the friends’ made-up way to talk. They use sounds, moves and little beats. A fin, a flipper, a nipper or a wing can help say something!
In the books, we read what the animals say in English. Their human friends learn Oceanese a little at a time.
A language that belongs to everyone
Every friend adds an idea to Oceanese. Murray clicks his nippers. Tia copies his beat with a flipper pat. Kevin tries it with his wings. They learn from each other. You can do it your way, too!
Meet the moves
Meet the friends’ moves! They try new moves together and decide what they mean.
Wendy
A silvery turn catches the sunlight. A quick tail swish or a little slap on the water adds a beat.
Barry
A flash of his shiny sides answers Wendy. A fin movement or a tail slap can carry the same rhythm.
Murray
Click-click go Murray’s nippers! He can wave them or pat the water. His friends copy the beat in their own ways.
Keely
A little dance, a gentle sway and a twirl. At the surface, a tiny tail pat can join the water rhythm.
Kevin
A laugh, a wing lift or a little wing flap. Kevin stays on his perch and joins the beat with his own movements and sounds.
Tia
A flipper wave, a gentle head nod and a turn through the water. At the surface, she can pat or slap the water with a flipper.
Raffy
A head bob, a fin lift and a little wiggle. At the water’s edge, a fin or tail slap can start a rhythm for everyone.
One rhythm. Seven different ways.
The water friends pat and splash the water. Kevin joins in from his branch with a laugh or a wing wave. A tiny pat counts just as much as a big splash!
Try a nod, a tap, a sound or a move that feels right for you. You can watch or pick the next move, too. Give everyone a turn.
What if the water gets cloudy?
Wendy turns to catch the light. But the water is cloudy! Barry cannot see her shine.
Could they find clearer water? Could they move closer? Maybe a friend has another idea! They check that their friend knows what they mean.
Try a rhythm together
Listen to a short rhythm, then take turns making one of your own. Watching, tapping or moving in your own way all count.
Three gentle taps. Then it’s your turn.
Sound plays only when you choose it. You can tap together without sound, too.
Make a friendship pattern
Pick your friends. Watch their moves. Then have a go your way!
LEARN A MOVE WITH A FRIEND
Watch, then join in
Pick a friend. Watch their move. You can watch again or go one step at a time.
Murray · Click-click
Watch his nippers go click-click. Can you tap twice?
1. Choose three friends. 2. Watch them take turns. 3. Tap their pictures in the same order—or follow along your own way.
Let’s make a pattern!
Choose three pictures above. You can choose a friend more than once.
Who will start your pattern?
Take your time. Tap, move, point or just watch. You can watch again. Tap Show next move to go slowly.
Borrow a friend’s idea
Take turns picking an idea. There can be lots of good answers!
Murray makes click-click, pause, click. How could Tia copy his rhythm with her flippers?