What is the relevance theory in pragmatics?

The relevance theory in pragmatics is a framework developed by Dan Sperber and Deirdre Wilson in the 1980s. It aims to explain how communication works by focusing on the concept of relevance. According to this theory, the primary goal of communication is to convey information that is relevant to the hearer's cognitive context.

In relevance theory, relevance is defined as the relationship between the input (the utterance or message) and the cognitive environment of the hearer. The theory argues that humans are constantly seeking to maximize cognitive efficiency by processing information that is relevant to their current goals and expectations. Therefore, the hearer's cognitive context plays a crucial role in determining the relevance of an utterance.

The theory proposes that communication involves a process of inference, where the hearer actively constructs meaning by making connections between the input and their cognitive context. The speaker's role is to provide enough clues and context for the hearer to make these inferences effectively. This means that speakers need to be mindful of the cognitive environment of their audience and tailor their messages accordingly.

Relevance theory also emphasizes the importance of the principle of relevance, which states that communication is successful when the cognitive effects of processing an utterance are worth the effort. In other words, the speaker should provide enough relevant information to justify the hearer's cognitive effort in processing the message.

One key aspect of the relevance theory is the distinction between explicature and implicature. Explicature refers to the explicit meaning of an utterance, while implicature refers to the additional meaning that is inferred from the context. The theory suggests that implicatures are derived when the hearer detects a relevance that goes beyond the explicit meaning of the utterance.

Overall, the relevance theory in pragmatics provides a comprehensive framework for understanding how communication works by focusing on the concept of relevance. It highlights the active role of both the speaker and the hearer in constructing meaning and emphasizes the importance of tailoring messages to the cognitive context of the audience.