söylememe

Söylememe is a Turkish neologism used in online culture to describe a meme that centers on discourse itself. The term combines söylem, meaning discourse or public speech, with meme, signaling that the image or video is deployed to comment on, expose, or subvert how statements and narratives are produced in public life.

Etymology and usage have emerged through Turkish social media in the late 2010s and 2020s, as communities began to reflect meta-commentary about politics, media, and culture through memes. Söylememe typically relies on familiar meme templates or clip formats, with captions or overlays that point to performativity, contradictions, or power relations behind spoken or written statements.

Common formats include image macros that juxtapose an official claim with a contrasting reality, or video memes that annotate statements with critical or ironic commentary. The approach invites viewers to reframe events, policies, or media coverage by highlighting how discourse constructs meaning, legitimacy, or legitimacy gaps.

Söylememe is viewed as part of a broader trend toward meta-meminimia in digital culture, where users mobilize humor to participate in public commentary, question authority, and democratize voice beyond traditional media. It can foster rapid, decentralized critique and cross-political dialogue, yet it also risks oversimplification, interpretive disagreement, or cynicism if used without clear context. Overall, it represents a flexible tool for reflexive engagement with contemporary discourse in Turkish online spaces.