>ČASOPIS PRO MODERNÍ FILOLOGII 2025 (107) 2
Multimodal Memes and Their Metaphorical Dimensions
ABSTRACT (en)
This study explores multimodal internet memes in a Spanish-speaking context as multimodal metaphors within social media-mediated communication. Drawing on theories from cognitive linguistics, including conceptual metaphor (Lakoff and Johnson), conceptual blending (Fouconnier and Turner), and multimodal metaphor (Forceville), this paper argues that memes carrying metaphorical content exemplify multimodal metaphor, where the source domain is typically represented visually, whereas the target domain is expressed textually, enabling complex concepts to be expressed with minimal cognitive effort. This process can be represented using the 4-space model within the conceptual blending framework. Also, there is a clear need to perceive metaphorical information in internet memes on multiple levels, distinguishing between generalized, group, and specific forms of conceptual metaphor. Additionally, the findings suggest that the metaphorical content within the analysed constructs provides a conceptual basis for categorizing multimodal internet memes.
KEYWORDS (sk)
internetové mémy, konceptuálna metafora, multimodálna metafora, konceptuálna integrácia, sociálne siete
KEYWORDS (en)
Internet meme, conceptual metaphor, multimodal metaphor, conceptual blending, social media
DOI
https://doi.org/10.14712/23366591.2025.2.7
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