This paper outlines the main context of relevance theory,an inferential approach to pragmatics,which is based on a defi- nition of relevance and two principles of relevance:a Cognitive Principle(that human cognition i...This paper outlines the main context of relevance theory,an inferential approach to pragmatics,which is based on a defi- nition of relevance and two principles of relevance:a Cognitive Principle(that human cognition is geared to the maxi- mization of relevance),and a Communicative Principle(that utterances create expectations of optimal relevance).Defi- nition of relevance and the motivation for these principles will be explained,and criticisms of them will be presented re- spectively in this paper.展开更多
文摘This paper outlines the main context of relevance theory,an inferential approach to pragmatics,which is based on a defi- nition of relevance and two principles of relevance:a Cognitive Principle(that human cognition is geared to the maxi- mization of relevance),and a Communicative Principle(that utterances create expectations of optimal relevance).Defi- nition of relevance and the motivation for these principles will be explained,and criticisms of them will be presented re- spectively in this paper.