visual communication

The aim of intercultural translation is to communicate. Communication is acted via verbal as well as visual means. The interaction of verbal and visual means of communication makes a set of complex situations which demand special attention in translation. One context in which the interaction of visual and verbal elements gets vital importance is children’s picture books. Color is an integral part of children's books and a visual mode of communication. For the translator, to interpret symbolic colors, cultural knowledge of the source and the target cultures is required. To see how the cultural meaning of colors can be transferred and how the interrelationship of words and colors can be achieved, Nida and De Waard’s (1986) Adaptation Theory was utilized in this study. The theory was applied to eight children’s colored picture books aimed for school-aged children. Six of the books were originally written in English and translated into Persian and two of them were the other way round. The analysis of the data showed that the required features of the above-stated theory was rarely followed by translators and illustrators, and, except in one case, color symbolism was not considered by them. Findings of the study indicate that since visuals are inseparable elements of translating children's picture books, translators/illustrators should be dressed with enough information of visual-cultural aspects of translation in general, and of color symbolism in particular.

This paper presents a new taxonomy of memes based on a comprehensive analysis of the content, purpose, and discourse characteristics of memes in Persian cyberspace. The taxonomy identifies five main categories of memes: (1) Visually punctuated memes, which rely on wordplay and visual imagery to create humor, often employing juxtaposition, incongruity, or unexpected combinations of elements; (2) Culturally Allusive Memes which draw upon shared cultural knowledge, including historical references, literary allusions, or popular cultural tropes, to evoke humor and connect with a specific audience; (3) Socially Commentative Memes which use humor to critique or comment on social and political issues, often employing satire, irony, or exaggeration to highlight societal ills or promote social change; (4) Personally Anecdotal Memes which humorously share personal anecdotes or observations, often using relatable experiences to foster connection and shared understanding among viewers; and, (5) Hybrid Memes defy categorization and combine elements from different categories to create unique and creative expressions. This article also explores the role of memes in the meaning-making of internet humor in Persian cyberspace. Memes, this study shows, are a great way for Iranians to share humor, connect with others, and express their unique culture.