Cognitive principle of relevance

Definition

The cognitive principle of relevance posits that human cognition is geared towards the maximization of relevance, meaning that individuals naturally seek information that is useful and pertinent to their goals. This principle suggests that when people communicate, they strive to present information that will yield the greatest cognitive benefit with the least amount of effort, impacting how messages are interpreted and understood.

5 Must Know Facts For Your Next Test

1. The cognitive principle of relevance is central to relevance theory, which emphasizes how people interpret messages based on the perceived relevance of the information presented.
2. This principle implies that speakers aim to provide the right amount of information to engage listeners effectively without overwhelming them.
3. In practical terms, the cognitive principle of relevance can explain why some statements are interpreted as more meaningful or important than others based on context.
4. Understanding this principle can help clarify why certain conversational implicatures arise, as speakers often rely on listeners to infer deeper meanings based on relevance.
5. The cognitive principle of relevance highlights the interplay between expectation and interpretation in communication, showing how individuals prioritize information based on its potential impact.

Review Questions

• How does the cognitive principle of relevance influence the way people interpret messages in everyday communication?
  • The cognitive principle of relevance affects message interpretation by guiding individuals to focus on information that seems most pertinent to their current goals or interests. When listening to someone speak, individuals evaluate what is being said against their own knowledge and context to determine its importance. This helps them prioritize which parts of a conversation to pay attention to, leading to more effective communication.
• Evaluate the connection between the cognitive principle of relevance and Gricean maxims in communication effectiveness.
  • The cognitive principle of relevance complements Gricean maxims by suggesting that while speakers may strive to follow these conversational rules, what ultimately matters is the perceived relevance of their contributions. Grice's maxims guide individuals towards effective communication strategies, but the cognitive principle emphasizes that the effectiveness lies in the audience's assessment of how relevant the information is to their understanding and decision-making. Therefore, an adherence to these maxims may not always ensure clear communication if the relevance is not recognized by listeners.
• Assess how understanding the cognitive principle of relevance can enhance our comprehension of pragmatic phenomena such as implicature and ambiguity.
  • Grasping the cognitive principle of relevance allows for a deeper analysis of pragmatic phenomena like implicature and ambiguity by highlighting how context shapes interpretation. By recognizing that individuals filter information through their relevance-seeking lens, one can better understand why certain statements might be seen as ambiguous or carry implied meanings. This understanding underscores that effective communication often hinges on shared contextual knowledge and mutual expectations about what is relevant, thereby enriching our approach to both spoken and written discourse.

Related terms

Relevance theory: A framework in pragmatics that asserts communication is driven by the search for relevance, focusing on how context and inferencing play roles in understanding messages.

Gricean maxims: A set of conversational principles proposed by H.P. Grice, which include Quantity, Quality, Relation, and Manner, that describe how effective communication typically occurs.

Inferencing: The process by which individuals draw conclusions or make interpretations based on available information and context, crucial in understanding implied meanings in communication.