Double Meanings of Words & Chunk Light Tuna

Words may have double meanings. Stand-up comics, humor writers, scriptwriters, and poets all use double meanings (also known as double entendres). Double meanings may set up jokes, deliver punch lines, create subtle irony, or deliberately offer the reader with several possible interpretations (this last function probably being more popular in poetry than in humor). My reflection on this technique started with an advertisement for chunk light tuna.

My Ignorance of Chunk Light Tuna

It all started when my eyes whipped over a grocery store's circular. For some reason, my gaze returned to the picture of a can, its label bearing the inscription "Chunk Light Tuna." Now, I am very ignorant about the nuances of tuna terminology because I don't like to eat canned fish. I never have. Although I outgrew many of my childhood food preferences, I never did learn to like canned tuna. As a result, I've never paid much attention to the labels of StarKist, Chicken of the Sea, or whatever other brands exist.

So the wording on the label suddenly struck me as odd. Perhaps the store-brand manufacturer failed to hire a proofreader. Shouldn't the word light come first? Or last? But surely not in the middle? I mean, have you ever seen "cheese lite crackers" or "maple light syrup" or "chocolate lite chip cookies"?

My Misunderstanding of Chunk Light Tuna

So, of course, I executed a quick Internet search. I discovered that the term light tuna describes certain varieties (such as skipjack, yellowfin, etc.), as opposed to white tuna, which usually describes albacore. Obviously the word light could carry several possible meanings, depending on the context. But even when it comes to food, light can also carry double meanings.

Using Double Meanings

Poets, comics, and other creative writers don't usually work for tuna companies, however. So how can you use double meanings effectively in your writing? And avoid the ignorance in readers such as myself that will cripple your communication efforts?

Jokes

If you want people to understand your jokes, make sure you use terms your audience is likely to understand. I didn't pick up on the intended meaning of light in "chunk light tuna" because I've never had much reason to give thought to the varieties of canned fish. Likewise, you probably wouldn't use double meanings of hunting terms to tell jokes to a group of vegetarians-unless they actively oppose hunting and so know all about it.

Think about the people who are most likely to make up your audience. Choose terms with double meanings accordingly.

Poetry

Using double meanings for poetic purposes, instead of for humor, involves a different process. In this scenario, you often want to use a range of possible meanings to do one of two things: (1) allow different interpretations of your work or (2) convey a fuller range of meaning, instead of a narrow definition. In the second case, you may deliberately use a single word to convey more than one idea.

I think one of the best ways to understand this process in action is to spend some time dissecting some good classic poetry. Read the poem over and over. Try to get a sense of the overall meaning. Then comb each line and think about individual word choices.

More Resources on Double Meanings

Patricia Williams, another Associated Content writer, talks about her experiences with double meanings in "Good Writing Contains Double Meanings."

Optical-Illusionist.com addresses double meanings from a visual standpoint.

MSNBC has published an interactive quiz that targets how the same word applies to two different contexts. You may find it fun to try.

Richard Newman briefly discusses why he chose to write about "Negro spirituals," with double meanings making his list.

This Writer's Corner blog entry details an example of how double meanings created a more poignant effect, instead of a humorous effect.

These comics mostly play off homophones, homonyms, or idioms. Take a look and you might get a few chuckles.

More Resources for Chunk Light Tuna

If you eat tuna or want to know more about it, you might enjoy the following resources:

"What is Chunk Light Tuna?" by Roxanne Webber offers a six-paragraph answer to the title's question.

Provided by the Environmental Defense Fund, this page about skipjack offers comparisons of several species as well as health and nutritional information.

StarKist's FAQ also addresses basic questions, some specifically about their company and some generally about tuna.

Linda Larsen, of About.com, offers recipes for canned fish.

The FDA instructs readers on the issues of mercury, safe handling, and cooking practices.