Stephen Fry Talks Language
Stephen Fry Talks Language
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neenaw

Original Poster:

1,234 posts

220 months

Tuesday 12th October 2010
quotequote all
I thought this might be of some interest to some PH'ers

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=J7E-aoXLZGY

RDMcG

20,914 posts

238 months

Tuesday 12th October 2010
quotequote all
It should be part of the PH constitution.smile I am not a fan of poor grammar, but the definition of what is a proper use of language is something that changes over time.

Strangely Brown

16,235 posts

262 months

Tuesday 12th October 2010
quotequote all
RDMcG said:
It should be part of the PH constitution.smile I am not a fan of poor grammar, but the definition of what is a proper use of language is something that changes over time.
Indeed it is, and Mr. Fry is no more an authority on it than the next man yet there are rather many here that hang on his every word as if it were gospel.

308mate

13,758 posts

253 months

Tuesday 12th October 2010
quotequote all
Strangely Brown said:
RDMcG said:
It should be part of the PH constitution.smile I am not a fan of poor grammar, but the definition of what is a proper use of language is something that changes over time.
Indeed it is, and Mr. Fry is no more an authority on it than the next man yet there are rather many here that hang on his every word as if it were gospel.
And after following him on twitter for a while, Ive found him rather cutesy and annoying.

sadako

7,080 posts

269 months

Tuesday 12th October 2010
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tldr; Trolling is a art.

Simpo Two

93,068 posts

296 months

Tuesday 12th October 2010
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Strangely Brown said:
Mr. Fry is no more an authority on it than the next man
He probably is, to be fair.

anonymous-user

85 months

Tuesday 12th October 2010
quotequote all
Strangely Brown said:
RDMcG said:
It should be part of the PH constitution.smile I am not a fan of poor grammar, but the definition of what is a proper use of language is something that changes over time.
Indeed it is, and Mr. Fry is no more an authority on it than the next man yet there are rather many here that hang on his every word as if it were gospel.
Too right.

http://www.thedailymash.co.uk/news/celebrity/every...

Strangely Brown

16,235 posts

262 months

Tuesday 12th October 2010
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Simpo Two said:
Strangely Brown said:
Mr. Fry is no more an authority on it than the next man
He probably is, to be fair.
A) No, actually he isn't.

and

B) It rather depends on "the next man".

On the use of language, I'll take the side of Lynne Truss or John Humphrys over dear old luvvie Fry any day. He's quite the hypocrite really: if you watch his appearance on Room 101 he berates people for their use of language.

Besides, there is an awful lot crap spouted on QI and it's all designed to make Stephen look clever.

Simpo Two

93,068 posts

296 months

Tuesday 12th October 2010
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OK, I'll grab the next passing stranger off the street and see who knows the most about grammar.

maser_spyder

6,356 posts

213 months

Tuesday 12th October 2010
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If you're interested in it, buy a copy of 'Troublesome words' by Bill Bryson.

Not entirely written in his normal style, but still with some of his best little witticisms.

Full of information about how and when to use words like 'Fewer' or 'less', etc.

It's one of his very first books, I think re-published in a new format quite recently too, although it dates back to 1983 or thereabouts.

Mrs Maser used to write for a living, and she had a copy in her top drawer, just to check odd words on the occasion of not being 100% certain it was grammatically correct.

Strangely Brown

16,235 posts

262 months

Tuesday 12th October 2010
quotequote all
Simpo Two said:
OK, I'll grab the next passing stranger off the street and see who knows the most about grammar.
See my point "B" above.