--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: When I started off, I always used to do…" description: "\"When I started off, I always used to do parodies and impressions, mimicking people... and then institutions. You become aware that some institutions ha..." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/2d0/armando-iannucci-18442_almost_when-i-started-off-i-always-used-to-do-p_2691040.jpg" --- # When I started off, I always used to do parodies and… ![“When I started off, I always used to do parodies and impressions, mimicking people... and then institutions. You become aware that some institutions have their own language. You almost define yourself by how you speak.” quote by Armando Iannucci](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/2d0/armando-iannucci-18442_almost_when-i-started-off-i-always-used-to-do-p_2691040.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/2d0/armando-iannucci-18442_almost_when-i-started-off-i-always-used-to-do-p_2691040.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/2d0/armando-iannucci-18442_almost_when-i-started-off-i-always-used-to-do-p_2691040.jpg) > “When I started off, I always used to do parodies and impressions, mimicking people... and then institutions. You become aware that some institutions have their own language. You almost define yourself by how you speak.” [Armando Iannucci](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/armando-iannucci/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. Parody reveals that institutions develop distinct languages, shaping personal identity through speech. **In simple terms:** Institutions have unique jargon that influences us. Key Takeaway Be aware of institutional language. Themes language identity institutional critique Mood analytical critical Type philosophical inspirational When to use this quote - corporate meetings - political debates - media analysis Key Concepts sociolinguistics media studies self-awareness Questions to Reflect On - How does institutional language shape personal expression? - When should you resist adopting it? A Different Perspective Adopting jargon can obscure authentic voice. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Define yourself](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/define-yourself/) [Institutions](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/institutions/) [Language](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/language/) [People](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/people/) ## Related quotes > [Mimicking people was something I did already.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jane-horrocks/mimicking-people-was-something-i-did-already/) [Jane Horrocks](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jane-horrocks/) > [When I was a child, I was referred to as the Danny Kaye of the family, because I was always impersonating and mimicking people.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jason-mantzoukas/when-i-was-a-child-i-was-referred-to-as-the-danny-kaye-of-the-family/) [Jason Mantzoukas](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jason-mantzoukas/) > [I don't like mimicking people. I don't like repeating talking points. I don't like arguing with people just to argue. I like actually coming…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/s-e-cupp/i-don-t-like-mimicking-people-i-don-t-like-repeating-talking-points-i/) [S.E. Cupp](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/s-e-cupp/) > [All official institutions of language are repeating machines: school, sports, advertising, popular songs, news, all continually repeat the same structure, the same meaning, often…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/roland-barthes/all-official-institutions-of-language-are-repeating-machines-school/) [Roland Barthes](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/roland-barthes/) > [Of all social institutions language is least amenable to initiative. It blends with the life of society, and the latter, inert by nature, is…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ferdinand-de-saussure/of-all-social-institutions-language-is-least-amenable-to-initiative/) [Ferdinand de Saussure](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ferdinand-de-saussure/) > [I say with pride that I've done over a hundred voices or something, and some of them may have only had two or three…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/hank-azaria/i-say-with-pride-that-i-ve-done-over-a-hundred-voices-or-something/) [Hank Azaria](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/hank-azaria/) > [Mimicking childbirth on 'Grey's' has taken the mystery out of it.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/camilla-luddington/mimicking-childbirth-on-grey-s-has-taken-the-mystery-out-of-it/) [Camilla Luddington](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/camilla-luddington/) > [“Bastian and I have an additional ability,” she told him. “It’s called mimicking. 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If we love…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/we-become-what-we-love-and-who-we-love-shapes-what-we-become-if-we/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [I used to write songs that mimicked other songs that I would hear as a kid, cos I was 12 years old when I…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/justin-nozuka/i-used-to-write-songs-that-mimicked-other-songs-that-i-would-hear-as/) [Justin Nozuka](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/justin-nozuka/) > [“Mimicking a poor role model is like eating food past its due date. While it may look good on the surface, it’ll ultimately make…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/frank-sonnenberg/mimicking-a-poor-role-model-is-like-eating-food-past-its-due-date/) [Frank Sonnenberg](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/frank-sonnenberg/) > [I think it was something I inherited from my mother, who learned to do it. 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So if I've spent a lot…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/armando-iannucci/as-a-gut-thing-my-next-project-is-always-the-complete-opposite-of-the/) [Armando Iannucci](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/armando-iannucci/) > [I hate the idea of labels and saying you are member of one party or another and signing up to all sorts of policies…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/armando-iannucci/i-hate-the-idea-of-labels-and-saying-you-are-member-of-one-party-or/) [Armando Iannucci](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/armando-iannucci/) > [I am an optimist even though I am told everything I do is negative and cynical.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/armando-iannucci/i-am-an-optimist-even-though-i-am-told-everything-i-do-is-negative/) [Armando Iannucci](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/armando-iannucci/) > [I always think you've just got to move on. 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I would do stand up and impressions and enjoyed…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/armando-iannucci/i-started-quite-young-at-school-compering-a-charity-event-at-an-old/) [Armando Iannucci](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/armando-iannucci/) > [It's still very relevant to how politics works within government, but in terms of the way into politics for an outsider, no, I don't…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/armando-iannucci/it-s-still-very-relevant-to-how-politics-works-within-government-but/) [Armando Iannucci](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/armando-iannucci/) [Explore all 35 Armando Iannucci quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/armando-iannucci/) ## More Almost quotes > [My mother worked in the white world, but I lived almost exclusively in a black world. I don't think I had ever seen a…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/edward-p-jones/my-mother-worked-in-the-white-world-but-i-lived-almost-exclusively-in/) [Edward P. 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