As a lover of language, I can say that most of what Stephen says is profoundly true. I feel like that's what British Comedy does best. It delivers the truth, and the truth is hilarious.
@wizard7923
10 жыл бұрын
If you understand this video, then you are fluent in English.
@shakthithanigaivel6708
7 жыл бұрын
You can watch A Bit of Fryy and Laurie here twitter.com/28e6939923d472f6c/status/824454297890926593
@TheBc99
10 жыл бұрын
"Hold the newsreader's nose squarely, waiter, or friendly milk will countermand my trousers." This is and always will be my favourite sentence in the English language.
@stephenhooker882
8 жыл бұрын
+Benjamin Rome Clarke I rather like "The lady lies with her left leg planted firmly on the ground and the right hand waiting. The gentleman with the melon switches on the battery and places his left thigh on the edge of the swivel table. Keeping the neck of the stuffed goose absolutely straight..."
@breakingthemasks
2 жыл бұрын
@@stephenhooker882 ... Where is this from?
@misakuncar538
10 жыл бұрын
I have a serious reason to believe Stephen is actually Oscar Wilde
@Kissanminttu2
10 жыл бұрын
''Stop it, why should I, that hurt, help, Marjorie is dead'' I laughed so hard :D. I love these two.
@FBWL-u1r
12 жыл бұрын
As a student in English linguistics and literature this is one of the most inspirational speeches about language I have ever heard. Terribly funny but incredibly intelligent at the same time. "Language is the soft rain of dust that falls into a shaft of morning light as you pluck from an old bookshelf a half-forgotten book of erotic memoirs" is a quote that will stay with me for the rest of my life
@zhangbrian791
9 жыл бұрын
I tried to translate this sketch to Chinese for one of my friends, but I just couldn't. There is something in this sketch that is only funny in English and not otherwise. This is just a brilliant and well-thought piece of comedy!
@dragonicmicrophone6594
2 жыл бұрын
I know I'm 7 years late, but I commend you for trying to make the effort!
@ImAOpphavsmann
8 жыл бұрын
As a linguistic anthropology major I find this extremely entertaining:)
@SirAcha-qi8uj
7 жыл бұрын
Тhis mоviе is nоw аavаilable tооo wааtсh here => twitter.com/2b6f5fe6f175bcda2/status/824454297890926593 A Bit оf Fryуyy ааnd Lauriе Тriсkу Linguisticсs
@TheNathanEverest
7 жыл бұрын
I may not be a linguistic anthropologist but I sure am a cunning linguist () 👅 Couldn't resist mate
@Jackcantsleepful
10 жыл бұрын
I think this loosely encapsulates the first year of an English degree..
@puddingball
10 жыл бұрын
studiying linguistics and english, can confirm ;)
@hexonatapeloop
9 жыл бұрын
puddingball but can't spel
@puddingball
9 жыл бұрын
hexonatapeloop hoping for so long nobody'd notice that...
@hexonatapeloop
9 жыл бұрын
puddingball mwahahahahahaha
@georgeparkins777
9 жыл бұрын
Yeah. Exactly.
@Osafune2
16 жыл бұрын
Excellent acting by Stephen. Fantastic, I love the ridiculous gestures and mannerisms.
@bdschwa
10 жыл бұрын
This is an education in linguistics. he mentions digital infinity, linguistic relativism, langue vs. parole.
@wohdinhel
10 жыл бұрын
The funniest part about this to me is that, at least on some level, Stephen is completely serious here: of course, it's framed in a comical tone, particularly it's poking fun at all those sit-down programmes with rickety old philosophs, but then Stephen himself went on to make a totally serious podcast episode that was, essentially, the contents of this skit, except 100% serious. This *is* a very serious topic for Stephen, and I don't think anyone else on Earth could have done this skit.
@tregnier279
15 жыл бұрын
"I love you. Don't go in there. Get out. You have no right to say that. Stop it. Why should I? That hurt. Help. Majorie is dead." I love these two.
@celimendez7620
7 жыл бұрын
This is the best linguistics lesson I've ever seen. Unorthodox, but very effective. "There's language and there's speaking...There's chess and there's a game of chess" I'm not sure that's the example De Saussure used when describing langue and parole hahaha. And describing creativity with a piano as an example...brilliant. I don't know why I wasted my time on Uni. This is much better. My professor would've never accepted the definition of language to be "The creak on a stair."
@hexonatapeloop
9 жыл бұрын
Our first album will be called Marjorie Is Dead
@IdahoDali
10 жыл бұрын
"Hold the news-reader's nose squarely, waiter, or friendly milk will countermand my trousers."
@hexonatapeloop
9 жыл бұрын
I wish I had said that.
@ffoco5453
8 жыл бұрын
+hexonatapeloop You will, you will!
@LadySpectrespecs
9 жыл бұрын
I like how all of what he is saying makes perfect sense. I study Social Anthropology and have had lectures in the Philosophy of Language, and it is nice to see how the theories are echoing in this sketch. They showed us a Monty Python sketch in a lecture to illustrate a point - actually, Monty Python has been used on numerous occasions - but I think I would prefer Fry and Laurie. They are able to bring up interesting points and are great at being creative with language.
@themarktauber
10 жыл бұрын
Wonderfully funny send-up of the unselfconscious pedant who, instead of killing his audience by slow stupefaction, flays them for salting in the space of a few minutes. And yet. As a clueless student of linguistics, I cannot but goggle at the mastery of the key theories and their reductio ad absurdum that nevertheless begs further study. I trust I make myself obscure.
@leonnietzche3558
10 жыл бұрын
True and well said (in my opinion), but obfuscation leads to complication, and does not mean it in itself (insofar as the actual message relayed) is complex, as it only presents itself as such; and "it" in this case is my opinion, which is that there is comedy and then the comedic act, where the former is purely based on what thoughts or situations an individual finds humorous and the latter is (usually) a visual [re]presentation of the comedy being relayed. I digress for only a moment to suggest one of my favorite shows South Park as an example: I believe it was (and is) the crude-but-now-HD animation that gave a satirical face to the ridiculous yet comedic situations in the show, which is what makes South Park successful. Unfortunately, that kind of comedy has become mainstream and dumbed down, along with live acts that both require no actual thought and focus instead on the presentation of silly things. I love Fry and Laurie because I don't need to see it to laugh, the comedy itself is genius, and though there is room for improvement in the presentation (I hate studio audiences laughing), this was 30 years ago and don't really give a fuck.
@themarktauber
9 жыл бұрын
Hey are you related The Nietzche?
@georgeparkins777
9 жыл бұрын
You have not been quite thoroughgoing in your quest for obfuscatory phrasing. Merely academic, sir, merely academic, but quite satisfactory, vis á vis the communication of your most agreeable opinion.
@croutonscarf
9 жыл бұрын
" Is English too ironic to sustain Hitlerian styles? "
@croutonscarf
9 жыл бұрын
croutonscarf maybe not but an awful lot of the straight-faced Stalinesque lately, perhaps not met with the derision it deserves
@postyoda1623
8 жыл бұрын
+croutonscarf Watch "This is England" and decide for yourselves. Also UKIP got 4 million votes last election.
@croutonscarf
8 жыл бұрын
+Tekin Beyoglu UKIP is only going to get more popular, that's for sure.
@maclennan73
14 жыл бұрын
I was given this vhs for christmas and I didn't ask for it as I had no idea who they were, I was 15, and it blew me away, it was so clever and funny, I'm 36 now and I still haven't found a double act as charming and brilliant as these two, thanks for posting.
@TexasTrojanPony
10 жыл бұрын
Oh these gentlemen are just wonderful. I love them so much. I am so so so so glad they exist.
@gussyfinkenottle
12 жыл бұрын
I still love this sketch after all these years. The command of the language is amazing from the totally amazing Stephen Fry : ))
@Drroxxette
14 жыл бұрын
I absolutely ADORE when Fry blathers on like a pretentious twit. It's one of my favorite of his gags. The best thing is how masterfully he can blur the lines between valid points and complete gibberish. The way he speaks is like music...like Free form Jazz. I could hear him go on for DAYS!!!
@MissGrapeNehi
13 жыл бұрын
I hate to gush about how much I love Stephen Fry and his brilliant command of the English language, but may I? May I?
@fixxxer928
12 жыл бұрын
Has it occurred to anyone yet that Stephen Fry has memorized this entire script? The memory on this genius of a man!
@Ryucho
10 жыл бұрын
I understand some of these words.
@LostinaJungle
17 жыл бұрын
I love this kind of humor so much... They need to make more of it!
@bayzano
14 жыл бұрын
This is genius, not only because it is funny, but because it IS funny and very profound at the same time... God, I love this guys...
@HerdisMarie
14 жыл бұрын
"May I compartmentalise? I hate to, but may I, may I?" Love this line. Fry is hilarious in this sketch.
@blanchedubois11
13 жыл бұрын
FAVOURITE PART: EX-trinsically, EX-trinsically!!!! I LOVE the hand movements,and how Hugh Laurie joins in the second time!!!! CLASSIC!!!
@USERNAMEfieldempty
13 жыл бұрын
Only these two could do something this funny while still banging out a fiercely intellectual and concise argument at the same time.
@narozzz
13 жыл бұрын
I almost died at 2:39. Hugh's delayed, reconsidering reaction is nothing short of genius all by itself.
@MaxOVADrive
4 жыл бұрын
This character is based on an actual linguist. I saw the sketch back in middle school, and then shortly after my English teacher showed us a video, and there was a guy interviewed with the same bowl haircut and affect of speech. I've been trying to figure out who is is for years.
@akf2000
17 жыл бұрын
I remember watching this over and over on VHS, it's their finest sketch working on so many levels.
@sfex9
6 жыл бұрын
I started watching English comedy when I was about 20, this is one of the first sketches I remember watching and it's still my favourite. I swear one day I'll be able to understand every damn word
@ThingsWeSaidToday
14 жыл бұрын
My dad is a linguistics professor, and his opening lecture for linguistics 101 sounds remarkably like this... without Mr. Fry's innate charm, of course :)
@FranciPiano
7 жыл бұрын
I love this is so much that I had memorised all the dialogue and would continually repeat this sketch saying the complete dialogue along with them. I miss doing that...
@penumbra155
13 жыл бұрын
Educating, thought-provoking and yet self-mocking and deprecating. Brilliant, utterly brilliant!!!
@liccleterror
15 жыл бұрын
There's so many good bits in this I can't decide the best. Fry's acting is just sublime. Funniest sketch I ever saw.
@zapkvr
11 жыл бұрын
I have never seen this until today. It is a work of pure genius. If Douglas Adams was alive, he probably wishes he had written it.
@peteandurnot
17 жыл бұрын
I think his remarkable useage of language ensures that when Mr Fry talks... everyone else automatically goes silent and listens.
@NorthWriter
14 жыл бұрын
These two are the greatest comedy duo since Laurel and Hardy. My favourites were the "vox pops" bits where they would pretend to be random people interviewed in the street.
@Ko0lHaNDLuKex
14 жыл бұрын
Brilliant. Simply brilliant. Definitely need to get the complete box-set for Christmas!
@Inigobalboa
16 жыл бұрын
You are so right. We had people who spoke like that when I was at Uni. (I studied Linguistics). I think the whole monologue is inspired in Saussure.
@megmegmockmock
16 жыл бұрын
"and yet ooooh and yet we all of us spend all our days saying to each other the same things time after weary time: 'I love you, don't go in there, get out, you have no right to say that, stop it, why should I, that hurt, help, marjorie is dead.'" my absolute favourite quote ever!!
@neuvocastezero1838
2 жыл бұрын
It's inexplicable that "friendly milk has countermanded my trousers" has not become a more popular euphemism.
@didondio
15 жыл бұрын
I could listen to fry talking like that for hours.He's great with words.
@tylerfox7269
7 жыл бұрын
And yet, Oh.. and yet.. All of us spend all of our days saying the same old things to each other time after weary time".. I love you, don't go in there, get out, you have no right to say that, stop it, why should I, that hurts, help Majorie is dead"
@apseudonym
13 жыл бұрын
I love saying aloud sentences that I can't imagine anyone else ever saying before.
@NigelFowlerSutton
14 жыл бұрын
So so clever..... love it
@Thisnameistaken11
15 жыл бұрын
I love how you can tell that Fry really believes everything he says in that speech.
@elveggoloco
16 жыл бұрын
Thanks Jacy. The English have always been good with those unseen characters IMO. Reminds me of Sheridan Bucket and his aunt Violet.
@raudstrupe
15 жыл бұрын
Sublime on so many levels. I miss these two working together.
@oenflux
15 жыл бұрын
I'd like to see modern comedians do this with as much natural sofistication as these two. ABOFAL was so ahead of it's time. Thanks for posting. :)
@saridiculus
17 жыл бұрын
... a unique child born by a unique mother.. Hilarious sketch! :) love it !
@poppy90290
13 жыл бұрын
Fry is absolutely brilliant!!!! What a treat.
@flowder8
15 жыл бұрын
i was thinking the same thing, but then i realized that if i was in the audience and watching these two geniuses at work i would be just as loud!
@youtubister
13 жыл бұрын
Stephen Fry simply runs away with this, and that's not taking anything away from Hugh - very big in the States - Laurie. Brilliant stuff, this.
@bronzong91
16 жыл бұрын
I love the bit when he stifles his laughter. It shows the comedy for what it really is thought by him. After "help marjerie is dead"
@rnrmatthews
13 жыл бұрын
It's great how absolutely intelligent their sketches are. This is really the best sort of comedy out there, because it doesn't just make you laugh, it makes you think.
@Gracefuldove2024
10 жыл бұрын
Nothing like humor in British terms for British blood no matter where we live!!! :)
@queenastilon
15 жыл бұрын
Read it, several times, and all the rest of the collection of folk tales. Then I grew up and used my brain, and asked the teacher if there were really people who actually believed this stuff really happened. I was about 8 then.
@Taraquin
13 жыл бұрын
Today, and by mere coincidence , I attended my regular Friday architectural theory class, where my teacher was giving a lesson on structuralism, and its definition in various fields, including linguistics - during which, she presented the thoughts and works of Ferdinand de Saussure. Now at home, I went on youtube, seeing this for the first time... My reaction is best described with a combination of "lol" and "woah"
@PurushaDesa
15 жыл бұрын
"Hello, we're talking about language." LOL! That was such a trademark of this crap TV shows back then, where the presenters make out you've just dropped in on a completely natural conversation.
@Ayries
14 жыл бұрын
For the record, I study English Language, and when it comes to the kind of things we watch/people we watch, this is SPOT ON, lmao.
@velation
17 жыл бұрын
Such a witty and intelligent sketch, not to mention utterly hilarious.
@marciodpsh
15 жыл бұрын
0:23 to 0:28 is the best part. I've seen that kind of smile in the face of many pretense intelectuals.
@QtheWhatever
15 жыл бұрын
I listen to Stephen Fry's Podgrams, and he did one almost exactly like this. It's great, because... this is ACTUALLY WHAT HE'S LIKE. I love it.
@Ms14787
8 жыл бұрын
in Dorset alone. 😂
@Mojosbigstick
17 жыл бұрын
Me? I'm laughing for joy at Stephen Fry's linguistic skills, delivery and timing. A brilliant piece of witty writing, and I'm not ashamed of enjoying that!
@ani625
14 жыл бұрын
“Hold the newsreader's nose squarely, waiter, or friendly milk will countermand my trousers.” Brilliant!
@tendertende
16 жыл бұрын
lol! Linguistic Elasticity...we're talking about chickens, we're talking about eggs! lol! Love it!
@TexasLibra
15 жыл бұрын
"Hold the news reader's nose squarely, waiter, or friendly milk will countermand my trousers." Gotta love that!
@lcozzarelli
17 жыл бұрын
Oh, WOW!! Thanks for this insight! I just Wikipedia'd everything you said, and now I enjoy this sketch even more :)
@theschizoidman
14 жыл бұрын
Two comic geniuses providing a great example of comedy that doesn't talk down to the audience. Priceless. We need oodles more of this and a whole lot less masquerading as wit.
@NausicaaLeGuin
14 жыл бұрын
God, it's just an absolute delight to listen to him speak...
@HHGFHJGFHJGFJTYFJDGY
11 жыл бұрын
Rowan Atkinson should have a conversation about 'Bob' (Atkinson sounds good saying 'Bob') being 'capable' with Stephen Fry.
@thanx4life
14 жыл бұрын
it's amazing how Stephen can remember all that text... i would pass out
@MrBillinoregon
11 жыл бұрын
These two have such an enormous gift for witty and profoundly charming silliness. Do they write their own material?
@Mysticum81
16 жыл бұрын
I'm no expert, but I have studied some linguistics, and I'm fairly sure Fry has, too :D I hear echoes of some of the stuff I've read myself, but this is certainly a thousand times more fun :D
@inawoodenhouse
18 жыл бұрын
"i love you, dont go in there, get out, you have no right to say that, stop it, why should i, that hurt, help, margerie is dead" that was my favorite part
@stewiegriffin993
11 жыл бұрын
I've uploaded the full version of this in HD: /watch?v=MSyIhapMdI8 Enjoy! :)
@doctorx777
14 жыл бұрын
"And yet, OHHHH and yet, we all of us spend all our days saying to each other the same things time after weary time: I love you; don't go in there; get out; you have no right to say that; stop it; why should I; that hurt; help; Marjorie is dead."
@allenbauman2202
3 жыл бұрын
Genius. And linguistically, lavish.
@Zylophila
16 жыл бұрын
I have been speaking the English language for 41 years and I FINALLY understand it!!!
@Gle3nn
16 жыл бұрын
Hold the newsreaders nose squarely waiter, or friendly milk will countermand my trousers. Still cracks me up.
@lovablerocker
13 жыл бұрын
This sketch makes me want to memorize several dictionaries, but at the same time made me laugh.
@joshuaoha
13 жыл бұрын
Fry and Laurie! Comedic intelligence beyond the grasp of most of us.
@muthemasphate
14 жыл бұрын
thank you england for consistently being 20 years ahead of comedy
@TheConciseStatement
16 жыл бұрын
I love Fry and Laurie's observations. There really were a lot of TV shows that did that irritating thing where they'd pretend you'd just came in on a conversation, to make things look real and involving : "Oh, hi there, you just caught us talking about..." They're great.
@TheBc99
11 жыл бұрын
"Hold the newsreader's nose squarely, waiter, or friendly milk will countermand my trousers." My favourite sentence ever. Nobody said it before Fry, but I'll make sure it is said thousands of more times. :D
@matt7kiwi
15 жыл бұрын
I think Meaning1 has overlooked the greater brilliance of this sketch. It is indeed mocking, but the best humour also has an element of truth. The mechanisms of speach allow for an eternity of language :)
@RaskolnikoffAnna
8 жыл бұрын
Capable
@blackcat355
17 жыл бұрын
lmao one of their funniest sketches when fry says 'capable' im trying not to laugh out loud so i can hear what they're saying
@IanCrawford24
12 жыл бұрын
Damn! Double damn! And an extra pint of damn for the weekend!
@BloodyNoodle
16 жыл бұрын
English humour is the world's best. And they are masters of it.
@Talixaen
14 жыл бұрын
i just love how he keeps smiling like he's said the most brilliant thing ever. i honestly love that.
@DailyBrusher
13 жыл бұрын
"Hold the newsreader's nose squarely, waiter, or friendly milk will countermand my trousers." Reminds me of Chomsky's "Colorless green ideas sleep furiously." Also hear some T.S. Eliot in there!
@allconsuminghat-
15 жыл бұрын
Saw him on "thank god you're here" and it was incredible- I think he really is that fast.
@ribbonsonbedposts
17 жыл бұрын
I haven't gotten my BA in linguistics quite yet, but I followed his ramble and found it hysterical. =) Thanks for elaborating, though.
@SamDLite
14 жыл бұрын
I love Stephen Fry, he is the only one who could pull off this skit. Even Hugh couldn't have gotten the pompous-ass-lecturate attitude right. On the other hand, Hugh sets off Stephen's role PERFECTLY. Love these guys, they need to do a come-back!
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