Relevance Theory

I introduce the concepts and principles of relevance theory, an account of communication and cognition. Relevance theory claims that there is a single, exceptionless, general criterion by which audiences evaluate interpretations as they occur. This criterion is so specific that it allows audiences to select one and only one interpretation at any given time. Relevance theory draws on robust and testable claims and principles and is consonant with current understandings of human cognition. Finally, though the theory was developed to address verbal communication, it has been applied successfully to paralinguistic features of communication and to non-linguistic communication. I introduce the notions of spontaneous and non-spontaneous interpretation, a special extension of relevance theory with particular significance to adaptation studies.