A Linguistic Bestiary of Oyster Island

Oyster Island, a tiny speck of rock in New York Harbor that juts out of the water to become an island only during unusually low tides, is the setting for a surreal sound walk at the outermost edges of ecological possibility and speculative linguistics.

Once arrived at this Atlantis-like location, you are invited to consider what new languages might emerge if humans were to start transforming into the island’s native fauna of red beard sponges, razor clams, and moon snails. Sly and unsparing in its provocation, this journey of a few feet down the length of the island aims to utterly upend our cherished notions of our own humanity.

Narration by Diana Arnold

Listen to sound walk