Babel

Synopsis
In this five-part, BBC television series renowned polymath and wordsmith Stephen Fry investigates how language has played a crucial role in human evolution. He travels the world to learn the history of communication, from the origins of the spoken word to the cyber age of html, codes and texting. He explores how we learn language, write it and sometimes lose it, and why it defines us. Includes a brief sequence in which Fry joins in a one night benefit for the Washington Shakespeare Company ‘By Any Other Name: An Evening of Shakespeare in Klingon’.He joins in the Laertes/Hamlet duel scene.
Series
Fry’s Planet Word
Language
English
Country
Great Britain
Medium
Television
Technical information
Colour / Sound
Year of release
2012
Recording date
27 Feb 2011
Transmission details
25 Sep 2011 at 21:00 (Channel: BBC2)
Duration
60 mins

Credits

Director
John-Paul Davidson
Producer
John-Paul Davidson
Contributor
Stephen Fry

Additional Details

Theatre
Black Box Theatre
Production type
Documentary/Educational/News
Plays
Hamlet
Subjects
English language and literature; Languages; Linguistics
Keywords
English language; language; Shakespeare, William (1564-1616); Linguistics; Klingon; history of language

Notes

Notes
Broadcast weekly on BBC2 beginning 25/9/2011
History
The show is a reprise of the event first staged in September 2010 with Takei.

Sponsor

Name

BBC Television

Archive

Name

BFI National Archive

Web
http://www.bfi.org.uk/archive-collections/searching-access-collections/research-viewing-services External site opens in new window
Phone
020 7255 1444
Fax
020 7436 0165
Address
21 Stephen Street
London
W1T 1LN
Name

BoB

Email
bob@learningonscreen.ac.uk
Web
https://learningonscreen.ac.uk/ondemand External site opens in new window
Phone
020 3743 2345
Address
Learning on Screen - the British Universities and Colleges Film and Video Council
330 Holborn Gate
1st Floor, Suite 120
London
WC1V 7QH
Notes
Formerly a service from BUFVC, British Universities Film & Video Council
Name

Learning on Screen Off-Air Recording Back-up Service

Email
services@bufvc.ac.uk
Web
http://bufvc.ac.uk/tvandradio/offair External site opens in new window
Phone
020 7393 1514
Fax
020 7393 1555
Address
For Learning on Screen Members only
77 Wells Street
London
W1T 3QJ

Distributor

Name

2 Entertain Video

Email
DVDenquiryline@bbc.com
Web
http://www.2entertainvideo.co.uk/ External site opens in new window
Phone
020 7612 3000
Fax
020 7612 3003
Address
BBC Worldwide
33 Foley Street
London
W1W 7TL
Notes
Specialises in distributing archival film and television titles, predominantly licensed from the BBC (the principal shareholder is BBC Worldwide). Sale on DVD through retail outlets. As of 2016 2Entertain is being gradually wound down and its output reduced. If something is not available via them it is advisable to try the BBC Store at https://store.bbc.com/
Name

Retail outlets

How to cite this record

Shakespeare, "Babel". https://learningonscreen.ac.uk/shakespeare/search/index.php/title/av73572 (Accessed 25 Nov 2024)