Imre József Balázs and the Romanian Culture Ingrid TOMONICSKA Transilvania University of Braşov (Braşov, Romania) Interdisciplinary Doctoral School ingiringit@gmailcom Abstract. Imre József Balázs is a Hungarian poet, literary critic, editor and literary historian from Romania His main subject of interest and research area is the Hungarian avant-garde from Romania His research and work prove his attachment to Romanian literature as well – especially with the avant-garde For example, he deals with Gellu Naum’s poems for children and their translation. Thus, he fulfls the role of a mediator between Hungarian and Romanian literature not only through his studies and academic papers written in Romanian, but also through his contributions to the appearance of Hungarian poets in literary anthologies written in Romanian language Furthermore, he plays an important role in publishing the Hungarian translations of Romanian poetry, thus becoming a mediator between the Hungarian and Romanian cultures Keywords: multiculturalism, translation, cultural intermediary 1. Introduction From a formal point of view, the birth of the Hungarian literature in Romania is linked to the 1 st of December 1918, when Transylvania was attached to the already united principalities of Moldova and Wallachia Kántor and Láng place the date and place of birth of the Hungarian literature in Romania as follows: 1919 Romania, in a narrower sense Transylvania (1973, 5) Unquestionably, manifestations of Hungarian elements in the Romanian culture can be found even before this time, as there are always interferences and connections between neighbouring nations György Gaál states the following: Mutual infuences between the Romanian and Hungarian literatures can be dated from the period of the Reformation, starting with Bálint Balassi’s poetry, which is particularly rich in folklore The conscious creation of relations starts during the last period of and following the 1848 Revolution and freedom fght (Caesar Bolliac, Nicolae Bălcescu). (2010a, 1) ActA UniversitAtis sApientiAe, philologicA, 9, 1 (2017) 33–47 DOI: 101515/ausp-2017-0003