CAN MEMES BE TRANSLATED? A CONTRASTIVE ANALYSIS OF MEME TRANSLATION IN ENGLISH, ROMANIAN, AND HUNGARIAN
CAN MEMES BE TRANSLATED? A CONTRASTIVE ANALYSIS OF MEME TRANSLATION IN ENGLISH, ROMANIAN, AND HUNGARIAN

Summary/Abstract: Internet memes have become a form of digital communication situated at the intersection of linguistic creativity, cultural identity, and multimodal expression. Although memes circulate globally, their translation across languages such as English, Romanian, and Hungarian poses significant challenges due to idiomatic wordplay, culture-specific references, and format constraints. This article synthesizes current research in meme theory and translation studies and examines a selection of case studies to identify key translational strategies. The analysis demonstrates that meme translation involves processes of adaptation, substitution, and recontextualization, rather than direct equivalence. Findings suggest that successful translation requires not only linguistic proficiency but also cultural fluency and multimodal awareness. The paper highlights implications for translation studies, digital literacy, and cross-cultural communication.

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