Babel Lecture 2022 with Stephen Fry: 'What we have here is a failure to communicate' (17/06/22) 

As an Australian, I find it hard to agree with Brits calling Stephen Fry a national treasure. He is much more than that. He is a treasure to humanity.

As gifted an orator as you will find..and does not talk down to people...he engages, educates, delights and inspires. Humane and talented.

This is a man whose funeral I would queue for . A genuine national treasure

I'm totally gobsmacked! I'm a rather uneducated man, but when I heard Stephen mention how hearing those lines from an Oscar Wilde play sent him into a sort of 'eureka!/rhapsody' moment, I couldn't help think of the way I was struck by the writing of Jane Austin. It wasn't the stories so much, but the prose. I was working offshore on an oil platform in the Middle East at the time, and all I could think of was that I couldn't wait to get onshore and phone my Mother, telling her how much Austin's language 'sung' to me. It's an art, and I love it. PS: I can catch a cricket ball ... rather well, in fact!

I had a similar experience with language as a kid- my old man used to read me a series of pretty esoteric books about a verbose travelling storyteller called Kai Lung (set in an imaginary version of ancient China). One of the lines I’ve never forgotten comes when a bandit accosts Lai Ling on a lonely road and says “Please allow me to gain more honour than I can reasonably bear by escorting your obviously imperial personage with this inadequate, but heavily loaded, weapon.”

Stephen Fry isn't just my favorite Englishman, he's my favorite human.

I could listen to this man talk for hours. His joy literally brings tears to my eyes. What a delightful expression of human potential!

He is so admirable. So uniquely intelligent, humorous, kind and graceful. We're all the better for his brilliant existence.

Further proof, if further proof were needed, that Stephen Fry is nothing less than a bloody genius!

What heart in a man, A lexicon of phenomenon, A brain of beauty, I know few who would refute it. His love for language inspires all, Allows others to stand tall, Grow within themselves, And revisit book shelves. This master of words, Helps us look upwards, To reach for the stars in the sky, Oh how I love Steven Fry.

Such an eloquent inspirational and empowering speech! As an English user from a non-English speaking background, his message struck a chord. English does belong to everyone!

I could listen to him for hours, no matter the subject. Such a soothing yet engaging voice

The man is national treasure.

No one has ever been around Stephen Fry and thought “I am smarter than him.”

I only jumped double jump ropes once, to make sure I could; then quit while I was ahead. That's how I felt keeping up with Stephen with my Iowa ears. I toughed it out because he makes my own verbosity seem moderate.

I’m a huge fan. Thing about him is he can’t seem to get out of his own head. His thoughts are almost consistently self-centered. He doesn’t visit our world but instead invites us to stroll through his head. That’s why I adore him.

I love Stephen Fry in every situation that I find him in.

He is verbal personification of absolute perfection

Get this guy in front of a bunch of linguists and he grabs the opportunity to show off his amazing vocabulary with both tonsils. Of course I could listen to Stephen Fry read the phone book, and marvel at how he would never mispronounce any name at all.

I so wish that every single English Language teacher in every school watches and learns from this brilliant, brilliant man. That for me was 45 minutes of inspiration, entertainment and education. So many thanks for posting it.

I don't always understand what this brilliant man is saying, but damn it I feel all the better for hearing it.

I was lucky enough to be in the audience. Fantastic experience. Such a shame that the university announced it is closing the linguistics department the next day. Stephen fry is a national treasure, thank you for bring us his profound intellect.

There are few people who write or speak as well as Stephen Fry. Whether its his retelling of the Greek myths in Mythos, Heroes and Troy or reading the words of JK Rowling, I could listen to this man speak for hours.

Stephen Fry is a rare jewel & a universal treasure. He has such an abundance of talents that it’s impossible to enumerate them. His actual speaking voice is a pleasure to listen to. His knowledge about so many topics is awesome & makes us listen with rapt attention.

Only a speech Stephen Fry could deliver! Thank you for sharing......very much enjoyed! ❤️🇦🇺🐨

Mr Fry’s words are like honey drops to our ears

I feel immensely lucky to have stumbled on his lecture. Thank you for sharing.

Amazing, when he finished, I could not believe he had been talking for 45 min, could listen to him all day.

"A riot of unplanned, asymmetric variegation" is a beautiful description of the English language. ◡̈

I am 80, I when I was at boarding school aged 8, 3 of us had a bath together every day after school. I was at the top end and read Enid Blyton stories out loud. The girl at the other end would turn on hot water, the girl in the middle would paddle it up to me. One of the VERY few happy memories of living in hell. How I still love words and books. Love you Stephen ❤

I can’t find the words to express my admiration and joy of knowing English and thus marvel at and with Stephen Fry.

in another (perfect) universe, stephen fry is an english professor, inspiring young minds to find their own voice and just create

Stephen Fry is the best of us.

Hopefully the new King ignores the rules and politicians and bestows a long overdue knighthood. Stephen Fry is worth more to our country and culture than many of the other "Sirs" combined

While encouraging us to play with language, he plays with it in a fascinating way, simultaneously at multiple levls of wit and wisdon. A genius.

“I was discovering new chords, keys, and rhythms to play on the larynx” Music!!!

That's 45 minutes of music as good - if not better - as any music ever composed. Such flawless use of the language.

Always refreshing to hear from Stephen Fry.

Jeeves, you've done it again!

What an oh so very bubbly disquisition, over-spilling with erudition, light and enlightenment. Delightful.

Genius 💓

Thank you, thank you, thank you - may 10,000 thank you's bloom, Stephan! As Dylan Thomas said; " it is only English that can sound at once poetic, scientific, lyrical, harsh, musical, and thunderous."

The delivery is as good as the theme. A new original piece by Stephen is always something to behold. Thank you for sharing this with me here in New Zealand.

I would listen for hours to St Fry, talking about anything! He can make any subject immensely interesting

This is absolutely wonderful to listen to. What a great speaker and writer. Such wit, humility, and humanity.

Do yourself a stupendous favor and read his autobiography, “Moab Is My Washpot,” to appreciate just how extraordinary is this man. A true National Treasure.

To attend just one of his Presentations … is on my Bucket List 💯‼️

Wow! Wow!!! Stephen Fry is just wonderful!

"...the lickability of it all" his word choice is heavenly 🥰

Absolutely riveting! Who would have thought that a 45-minute lecture on language would have been so fascinating or so vital an analysis of not only dialectics and all the rest, but of our humanity?

Absolutely delightful. I adore Stephen so much.

I'm so, so glad he's better now. Idk what I'd do in a world without Fry!

Stephen, you're wonderful!

One of the best things I have ever laid ears to thanks for making this available

This is such a delight - it's musical, education, heart warming, delightful - thank you for your generosity in sharing this.

My gratitude to years of British television, therefore and henceforth, preparing me for the comprehension of the soliloquy articulated by esteemed gentleman.

As a graduate of University of Huddersfield, a huge fan of the English language's ability to continually morph and adapt to our landscape over time and a constant inquisitor of the ever patient Gordon Byers at said University, I am crestfallen I was unable to attend this lecture. I have parroted many of Fry's talking points over the years to those attempting to shackle my use of our wonderful language. I would then use my complimentary moist lemon scented cleansing square to wipe up afterwards 😀 Thank you for sharing this for us mere mortals to enjoy.

Stephen Fry talks to us all because we all speak some or other language. I love that we are able to express ourselves in language. Thank you sir.

Mesmerizingly masterful. Fry sounds to me to be in every way the linguistic personification of absolute perfection.

14:57 - “Lady Fandermere’s Wind” 😂😂

Simply fantastic.

Wonderful! Thank you for making this lecture available.

Mee eens heerlijke taal Nederlands. Just read Troy and I'm still reading Mythos. Always knew he was a writer, never knew he was a great writer until I picked up some of his books.

Wonderful wonderful wonderful! Thank you❤

I love this man. Every thing I've ever wanted to say, but lacked the ability to articulate, he has said so beautifully I have also fallen in love with the replay/rewind buttons. And this love makes its appearance in every Fry lecture/speech I've had the pleasure to hear. I'd willingly curl up at his feet to listen. Fry is the person who has made me understand the devotion of students who grouped around famed ancient philosophers, longing for the discourse of the day.

It's a sheer pleasure and delight to be exposed to such a crisp enunciation of English!

What a pleasure to listen to!

Oh Stephen, you are so magnificent. I wept like a little girl at the suffix of your presentation. What a treasure you are. You are the celebrity, living or dead, that I would most like to have to dinner. You are the perfect guest at a Japanese tea ceremony where the formality of the performance dumbfounds even the host while holding the profound knowledge that the entire purpose of the ritual is paradoxically the honoring of the guests. You are the epitome of the definition of the "true gentleman" as defined at the conclusion of the first act of my one man show Southern Freud Chicken. "boys a true gentleman is simply this, someone who makes everyone else in the room feel more at ease. Thanks for that Mr Fry. Xx

I just had so much fun listening to this lecture.

Imagine, if you will, just how enriched this sadening world could be with just a few more Stephen Fry[s] ...

Jodie: "Hoodezfield!" Kevin: "Hahaha!"

So many comments here that I wholeheartedly agree with. Stephen Fry is truly a treasure but also continues to help guide us to our higher sense of who we are and who we should aspire towards.

I was an immigrant child from Ireland (fifty years ago a couple of weeks back) and brought with me 'fillum' and 'haitch'. Alas, the 'fillum' as it was to go as it was too conspicuous, but the 'haitch' clung until my varsity when I finally traded it for 'aitch', and yet now, almost no one I know uses it.

Stephen Fry is the British Steve Allen. They're both brilliant in many fields.

Entertaining, engaging, educating and just all round a lovely, kind and playful soul. He makes the world richer.

Masterful, and humbling. I am both delighted and abashed.

Bloody marvelous.

Bravo Stephen Fry! Your enormous talent and wonderful humility are truely inspiring. Listening to and attempting to grasp and digest the most eloquent flow of words and ideas in this lecture is impossible. Fortunately, we have rewind and replay to help we mere mortals attempt to understand.

Once again, listening to Fry generates happiness.

I am imbued with a refreshed respect for my mother tongue. I think all people are at their most entertaining and compelling when they speak of the things they love rather than decry the things they loath, which is what so much of the internet and RU-vid comment sections in particular have become for in the minds of so many. The sheer charm of enthusiasm is something we should celebrate more of, without cynicism or suspicion. Just the joy of something shared and understood. Thank you, Stephen.

This excellent lecture gives me the impression, theat the Danish "Jante Law" was imported from England. But then again, England is Anglo-Saxon, and Anglia is not just an old car, but also the southern part of the Jutland peninsula.

Not going to lie. That's a great speech. Should be printed and published.

Listening to Stephen is always an absolute pleasure 🥰

I was once asked which three people (alive or dead) I would like to have lunch with. My answer was "Stephen Fry......" ........ After a while I was asked "...so, who else?" "Why would I want to share him?" I replied.

A Master perfectly demonstrating his craft. Don't you just Love Stephen Fry.

Thank you Babel for this talk!

As always - simply glorious!

Mesmerising, as always. Such a treat to share a chunk of the timeline of life with Stephen as part of it. Just love him to bits.

Hello Professor Thank you so much for your interesting information,i do appreciate your job.I wish you peace and happness under the sky of prosperity. Take care and have a good time. All the best. Your Student from Algeria.

What a joy it is to listen to Stephen Fry. I love his writing as well.

He walked the walk as well as talked the talk, his presentation being a perfect example of the actual subject itself…or is it “it” ? Loved the London Paris analogy. Bravo to you or “yourself”. Thank you Stephen.

Thank you, Stephen.🙏🏻☺️

I genuinely love this man more and more every day.

Oh, the eloquence and wit of this lovely man! ❤

What a gift to the human collectiv, amazing!

"hands to sign" Thank you ❤

Fantastic lecture, thank you Stephen!

Wonderfully inspiring, thank you

I've always found you a great intellect Mr. Fry.

Stephen! I’ve missed you so much ❤️❤️❤️