Stephen Fry Kinetic Typography - Language

Built By Matt · 3M views · 2010-09-30 · 6:34

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Overview

A kinetic typography animation set to Stephen Fry's spoken essay on language. Fry argues against grammar pedantry and for the way language evolves, including the verbing of nouns.

On Hacker News

HN uses it as the go-to short piece against pedantry and for language change, recommended whenever grammar disputes come up.

Recommended by 4 HN people across 6 months · HN mentions 2012–2025

Topics

Language & linguistics Graphic design & typography

What people said

sethammons · 2022-04 · Strong recommendation
> let them dumb down a language If you've not seen it, I highly encourage this 6 minute take by Stephen Fry on Language: [VIDEO] And besides, while you may be honing a blade or skill, my Homing Pigeon is homing in on home.
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sethammons · 2021-03 · Strong recommendation
Take ~6min to watch Stephen Fry Kinetic Typography - Language. It is my favorite take on changes in English and addresses verbing of nouns directly. [VIDEO]
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inlined · 2019-08 · Strong recommendation
> the engines also focus heavily on metrics like sentence length, vocabulary, spelling, and subject-verb agreement... The systems are also unable to judge more nuanced aspects of writing, like creativity. This reminds me of a wonderful essay/speech by Stephen Fry on the harm done by pedantry. I also feel that schools focus so much on a single structure of essay writing and similarly take the joy out of language. [VIDEO]
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Sources

Video by Built By Matt, played through YouTube.

HN Library · Source license

Data and selection notes

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