6. Relevance Theory

Question 1

The Principle of Relevance

Answer 1

People tend to pay attention to the most relevant phenomena that is available and to process them in a context that maximizes their relevance. Relevance and their maximization is the key to human cognition.

Question 2

RT is an attempt to work out in details Grice’s central claims

Answer 2

1. An essential feature of most human communication is the expression and recognition of intention (speaker’s meaning)
2. Utterances automatically create expectations which guide the hearer toward the speaker’s meaning

Question 3

According to RT, an input is relevant to an individual when…

Answer 3

a) it has contextual implication (conclusion) deducible from input
b) strengthening or confirmation of existing assumptions
c) revision
d) abandonment
- improvement of the person’s knowledge

Question 4

Comparative definition of relevance

Answer 4

According to relevance theory, other things being equal, the greater the processing effort required, the less relevant the input will be. Thus, relevance may be assessed in terms of cognitive effects and processing effort:

a) Other things being equal, the greater the contextual effects, the greater the relevance
b) Other things being equal, the smaller the processing effort, the greater the relevance

Question 5

Explicature

Answer 5

Functions as a template that requires pragmatic inference to develop it into intended meaning
• Enrichment – narrowing (He is too young. For what?)
• Loosening – broadening (The steak is raw. – not cooked enough)