<![CDATA[This study explores foregrounding through linguistic deviation in Taylor Swift’s The Tortured Poets Department: The Anthology. It aims to identify the types of linguistic deviation in the album, analyze how these deviations function as foregrounding devices in meaning-making, and examine the potential pedagogical implications of these deviations for the development of critical reading skills in EFL learning. This study employed a qualitative descriptive method using Leech's theory of deviation as the theoretical framework. The data were collected from 11 selected songs on the album using documentation and note-taking techniques. The analysis identified 188 instances of linguistic deviation classified into seven types: semantic deviation (149), lexical deviation (4), grammatical deviation (5), phonological deviation (3), graphological deviation (3), dialectal deviation (17), and deviation of register (7). Semantic deviation was the most prevalent, indicating the frequent use of figurative and unconventional language in the lyrics. These findings indicate that meanings in the selected songs are often conveyed indirectly, encouraging readers or listeners to construct meaning through interpretation. In addition, the study also indicates that lyrics can be used as authentic materials in EFL classrooms to develop critical reading skills through the interpretation of figurative language and the understanding of vocabulary in context.]]>
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