Stephen Fry Jonathan Ross Language

[@jeremyampt]

Stephen Fry is a fucking hilarious genius, a gift to the world

[@magpepper]

That monologue about London being like language was one of the most beautiful things I've ever heard.

[@Kaalec]

Isn't it amazing that Fry, who I believe to be one of the most articulate people in the English-speaking world (yes, all of it), is also a defender of the necessity for language to change, including its definition of what constitutes "good" speech.

[@MasterWhimp]

Stephen fry is right. The whole book thing was sweet, remember guys he was 12 years old... I love this man.

[@MythicSuns]

So was I when this episode was released and I do not remember hearing it used in that way. Mind you I don't remember hearing that much dated slang when I was 12 (apart from chillax but even that is still used a bit today), even though there was probably plenty of it, I just remember text speak being this huge new thing that adults absolutely hated. What's ironic is I'm now 24 and I hate it for a different reason then most adults hated it 12 years ago, back then they hated it because it was hard to understand, but today I hate it because it doesn't have the same purpose; most people these days have a phone with a QWERTY keyboard built in, so there's no real need for the extra button presses.

[@20centuryfox100]

I seriously teared up there. And then he ended that beautiful speech with the phrase "arse-gravy."

[@philhmp4231]

Stephen Fry is one of the most interesting human beings on the planet. He's a fountain of knowledge and pure joy to listen to and never boring.

[@ThatFontGuy]

I swear I could watch or listen to Stephen Fry for 8 hours a day without getting bored. Sheer brilliance. His point about the transitory nature of language is of course spot on as well, and one that few people seem to understand.

[@amy3971]

I adore how Johnathan was clearly trying at the start of this conversation to appear smart, and say something he thought Stephen would agree with. What a surprise he got!

[@Ashoerchen]

Actually, I think Jonathan Ross deserves applause. He had to play the role of the bad cop, and he knew it, and he played it grandiosely. A goddamn professional.

[@darkridr25]

Good Lord, Stephen Fry really is so book! I wish I had friends in my life like him.

[@rebeccabrewer2221]

Stephens understanding of language is so empathetic with its structure ❤️

[@JimFortune]

Stephen Fry knows where South Central is!

[@eizhowa]

I tried to explain this to a few "language enthusiasts" on KZbin, but it was too much bother. Now I can just send them this video and save myself a lot of trouble!

[@Heavensburden]

When I saw the title I figured this was going to be HILARIOUS, and I did find it funny,but mostly - I just love Stephen Fry even more than I did to begin with. This was great!

[@Marina-pe1gx]

Damn he opens your mind ahh love him.

[@islayzombies1]

Only Stephen Fry could give an epic speech on language, finish it with the words 'Arse Gravy" and still make an intelligent point.

[@drtoonie]

"Arse gravy" is the best phrase Stephen Fry has introduced me to

[@TheAxhol]

"embwaiise"

[@eyemcrass1554]

"Show me a hero, and I'll show you a tragedy." This is the greatest tragic hero of his or my generation.

[@rosehill9537]

Chillax a doctor planet lol Stephen fry's passionate display of his love of language is a joy to listen to.

[@revmpandora]

this is one of many reasons I love Stephen Fry.

[@LuisaPlantierMartins]

i could listen to Stephen all day! his commentary on language is right on! love him! ♥

[@georgehiggins1320]

PSPs are WAY book.

[@brokenscimitar]

The word Old Germanic word, meld or melden, will be known to the Dutch, it still being the normal word for announcing or making an announcement. Not long ago, the word gay meant happy, then it morphed into meaning homosexual upon which it rapidly changed into also meaning stupid, contemptible, detestable or despicable. Language lives!

[@otocan]

Ah, anmelden, of course.

[@ytsux4thisbs]

Ass-gravy....this is acceptable. It shall become my new favorite word.

[@TimeWithinTime]

Fucking Stephen Fry. What a boss.

[@Alxoholiker]

oh man, you gotta love stephen fry... such an intelligent person... wow.... my regards sir fry

[@gbillinge]

Someone on Ask FM told me to drink bleach for using the word ';summat' in an answer. I gave him this link. Thank you Stephen Fry. What an amazing human.

[@tektitethebastard4262]

I will mark this down as "apply daily."

[@theflylice]

That analogy was so frumpy pumpy ass gravy.

[@F4NT4FRU1TTW15T]

Jonathan dear, you just got owned!

[@havenmirabella3003]

Gotta love those old 00s garish suits ...

[@RipMK747]

Mr. Fry is such a wise man!!!

[@ReticentObsessive]

Throw in Benedict Cumberbatch and you have my favourite voices! I never get tired of listening to them.

[@56993iscool]

Stephen fry is just always right!

[@20centuryfox100]

Well said. Self-expression and communication, that's what language is all about.

[@FISHGOMOO4321]

As a British 21 year old, I have never ever referred to as something being cool as "book".

[@rhysaldo]

he's an absolutely brilliant human being

[@drdisarper]

What a wonderful human being.

[@RIXRADvidz]

Q.I. has many followers and playlists of Stephen Fry hosting and wrangling slap happy standups, I often will spend a full day, coffee to log off with QI running in the background. quite satisifying..

[@DutchDread]

Well Jonathan, to "meld" still just means to "announce" in Dutch, so you're welcome here.

[@D0NTREPLY]

This is how all old folk should be, understanding and excepting of the changing times. As absurd as it may seem: book as in cool, seems very strange, but Mr Fry, is just an all knowing and excepting type of guy. That is why he is a genius, he never stops, he's always learning and adjusting and morphing with the changing world.

[@Willgtl]

0:05 Couldn't stop picturing Hedonismbot.

[@beksski87]

You gotta love Stephen.

[@junbh2]

And Armstrong and Miller thought they were joking....

[@conman2317]

language is meant to communicate, I don't think anyone should have a problem with shorthand texting, it conveys the same message.

[@icelandicjam]

*courrier electronique, short form courriel. a word created and only used by french canadians.

[@Smithpolly]

@metalsinani Stephen Fry.....the ultimate weapon.

[@Zechnophobe]

Words define dictionaries, not the other way around.

[@MartinWillett]

Which of the following are beliefs:- alcoholism, spoonerism, Americanism, botulism, colloquialism, jism, anachronism Neologisms are newly coined words. All words are made up by somebody, most die quite quickly, even instantly, some linger around for a few years and then fade away, others are taken up rapidly and are found a permanent place in the language. Being strongly identified with a particular first user reduces the chance that a word will catch on.

[@Szaam]

It's quite amazing how outdated a lot of the conversation is in this clip.

[@Woodsaras]

How so?

[@qwertyTRiG]

@@Woodsaras Who uses T9 any more? Language changes fast.

[@JinxMinxNYC]

"Every time Fritz coughed then Rene curled up into a little ball and put up a white flag." oh, snap

[@abdihassan7208]

who are fritz and rene?

[@OlleLindestad]

It's perfectly fine to have personal opinions about what parts of language feel right and beautiful; this is simply taste. And because there is a certain mainstream taste, as it were, it's also fine to correct people *who want to be corrected* in line with mainstream language use. Just don't be a dick, and remember that taste is personal. We shouldn't be worried about our language changing unless these changes make us able to express fewer things rather than more things.

[@devianpatel]

This man

[@sphoney]

Haha, I like how he bursts Jonathan's bubble. Also loving the adoption of the word book to mean cool, and why it's happened. Two key presses! Who does have the time!? :) I'm going to start using it. I'll be so book... Good clip, thanks for uploading.

[@was100ify]

australian convict talk

[@CorellianSmuggler]

Imagine family reunions with Stephen Fry present...

[@caesar619]

I had to watch it a second time with a dictionary

[@joshfrost4618]

Stop Listen then Stare in awe

[@Astronopolis]

'Grammar Nazi' all of a sudden takes on a new meaning

[@IntricateDolphin]

Fuck that is a funny statement.

[@matrixrory]

national treasure.

[@Jdwest84]

I don't think the usage of shorthand in texts is wrong because of linguistic reasons. However I do believe it is undesirable because if speed is your only concern, it leaves little room for any personal, individual style or identity. It is creative yet stifling creativity at the same time.

[@trevorhamilton96]

2:06 THIS GUY IS A PROFESSIONAL SMARTASS. wow that was awesome

[@blaksu]

The word 'chillax' drives me fucking insane

[@benf199105]

Fry showing us the later Wittgenstein in practice. Good work son!

[@AIDSplz]

Every time Stephen gets into one of these rants, I feel like he's bitchslapped my brain.

[@MartinWillett]

In this context a sick language would be one in which what you write today would be as incomprehensible to your own great grandchild as Chaucer is to you. Change in language is inevitable but it shouldn't be encouraged, the tide should go against it so that the only change which sticks is that which is undeniably an improvement. If the language encourages novelty we won't be able to read books written in earlier times as we won't know what particular rapidly evolving words meant in that year.

[@sinbysin666]

I don't care what words people use. As long as they don't use "your" when "you're", and "there" when "they're". You know what I mean. As long as the sentence makes sense. I proudly use words (or bastardized initials) like "lulz" to express humour.

[@karaNUFC]

my god YES! That would be heaven.

[@PeterJamesColeman]

Exposé on jibba jabba, big ups Mr. Fry

[@Mojosbigstick]

May I propose a new radio show: 'Stephen Fry and Alan Rickman: a conversation'. It would play 24/7.

[@MartinWillett]

That's OK. Some people have the crazy idea that teaching is all about putting down others and demonstrating superiority, it isn't, it is about curing ignorance. A world in which ignorance flourishes and is unjustly proud of itself and those who try to cure it are labelled as villains would be a terrible, unsettling and nasty place to grow up in.

[@fran13r]

You mean you watched the whole 5 minutes and 22 seconds of this video without having one!?

[@comediansactorsandall2502]

Stephen is well book.

[@comediansactorsandall2502]

Wow, 2 years ago and I’m still stuck here in the world of Stephen fry.

[@MartinWillett]

No, some mutations are good, only the majority are bad and will fall away in a very short time. If something is good it will come through a process of conservatism and mild censure. In contrast if the default position is to instantly take up every new word you hear and use it as soon as possible and set Stephen Fry onto anybody who objects you will rapidly choke the natural processes of language development. Balance is the key.

[@Gypseeinatuxedo]

3:45 over and over

[@thehodge168]

If my english teacher's would of been a bit like Fry from the get go id of been the next orwell! this guy is amazing

[@Caliola7]

You wrote that on purpose, didn't you?

[@chazisbak]

He wasn't lying per say, there is debate to where the word "meld" came from, as it has been commonly used since the 1930's to mean "blend". Since we don't actually know for sure where the word truly originated, Stephen is not wrong for quoting a valid argument and hypothesis for where this word came from.

[@robotstix]

That was book. Have an up vote.

[@sp4ce108]

The other guy looks like a British Nicholas Cage...

[@vapidfarang]

Stephen fry in magnificent.

[@stevolution666]

@Mitchell Hansen MORE!

[@LingoFiles]

arse gravy is my new favorite word

[@FISHGOMOO4321]

I'm 21. I'm hardly ancient and I'm pretty clued up on slang coming from London. I've never heard anyone say: "YEAH BRUV DAT'S WELL BOOK INIT".

[@michaelt885]

All the dictionary has is origin and current meaning. Imagine how much words have changed over the centuries? Just in a decade a word could mean something different.

[@nathansciarone5627]

stephen fry the tortured soul

[@PushkaCom]

calmly: "not wrong at all.."

[@ZPSBestProfileName]

Stephen used to correct Alan on "less" and "none of which work"...

[@MartinWillett]

The point that I am making and Fry either misses or glosses over is that resistance to new language forms is just as much of a natural linguistic process as the introduction of novelty. If we took the Fry approach language would rapidly degenerate into mutually incomprehensible dialects between different age groups and social classes. We can read the works of Darwin or Mill and understand them easily, but we need a glossary for Allen Ginsberg and my grandchildren won't understand Ali G. Innit?

[@KuroSaber]

This was made when Jade Goody was alive, things change.

[@MythicSuns]

Media Molecule chose the right person

[@Gridironwarplans]

im with you there

[@berruyer-johnstonaanoelle8732]

oui !

[@MythicSuns]

text speak is a bit more practical to be fair: the main reason it was invented was to make words quicker to type out on a 12 button keypad...and then everyone got too used to it and now we still seem to use it despite the fact that the majority of people own a phone with a built in QWERTY keyboard. As for the whole "book" think, I would've been about 12 years old when this episode aired and I don't remember ever hearing anyone using T9 suggestions as slang which either meant it was a regional thing or I just didn't pay much attention to it.

[@M1st3rB3nn]

But the whole point of this clip was that language is fluid, that means the younger generation's coming up with new stuff all the time. If "safe" is roughly the same as when I was young, i.e. safe to me meant "sound" as in a sound person or idea, then as a greeting it's roughly the equivalent to "Alright?" which is not that much of a leap at all.

[@madziek84]

Stephen Fry, I love you when you speak about language. I also love you when you speak. Full stop. :)

[@procrastinator99]

"Ass-gravy".

[@bmanduprit2962]

procrastinator99 “Arse” 😉

[@cokeaddict87]

HELLO! WE'RE TALKING ABOUT LANGUAGE!

[@resttherian4949]

All I can hear is Barry Hatch and Reaver.. XD (Fable3)

[@gagagirls666]

Oh my god! is true! :0 Lol