Interpreting Language and Words: Making Meaning of Texts Parody has the power to capture the attention of many, entertain, and even inform, as its influence affects individuals both conscious and subconscious levels. Weird Al Yankovic’s recent album release exemplifies his love of popular culture and the use of parody to make critical observations about the world. In the song “Word Crimes”, he satirizes Americans’ usage of the English language with the intention of emphasizing the importance of grammar and making meaning in a given piece of writing. As Thomas Aquinas emphasizes in his work, Summa Theologica, words can hold multiple meaning, which shows how complex the written word truly is. Using parody, Yankovic’s song shows how language can have polysemic properties, as he makes a serious statement about grammar issues in a humorous manner. While individuals use words to share ideas, they must construct their messages purposefully, as their word choices influences the meaning of the overall work, which ultimately has the power to significantly influence the beliefs and thoughts of the readers who look to understand the complex texts they read. …show more content…
The words a writer uses should be clear and presented in a manner that makes interpreting the message more accessible to the intended audience. “Word Crimes” very clearly addresses the idea that those listening to the lyrics of this song commit felonies against the English language when they use poor grammar. Comically poking fun at how poorly people write on social media platforms and how frequently grammar mistakes such as using “it’s” as a possessive when “it’s” means “it is” occurs, Yankovic seems to be just stating the obvious, as most people who hear the song will have seen these offenses on their Twitter or Facebook