Nativization Of Relevance Theory

Are the foreign linguistic theories introduced into China suitable for the explanation of native linguistic facts? The question could ask for a research of nativization that has both theoretic appeal and practical significance. Following the logic as from theory construction to theory application, this dissertation constructs in a systematic way a nativization hypothesis of foreign linguistic theories, and further probes into Relevance Theory specifically to observe if Relevance Theory is fit for the analysis of Chinese native linguistic facts so as to optimize Relevance Theory and hopefully contribute to construct Chinese linguistic theories with exclusive intellectual property at large.The dissertation offers a definition of nativization of foreign linguistic theories, and probes into the necessity, rationale, goal and route for the nativization of foreign linguistic theories. The rationale for such nativization research is sourced from the relationship between generality and individuality, W. Humboldt’s philosophy of language and Sapir-Whorf Hypothesis. To achieve the goal that is to further develop foreign linguistic theories and construct Chinese linguistic theories with exclusive intellectual property, the ways of nativization research, starting from the introduction, application, verification, and critical appraisal of foreign linguistic theories, should include invalidation, supplementation and amendment of foreign linguistic theories.Based on the nativization hypothesis of foreign linguistic theories mentioned above, the dissertation initially explores the nativization of Relevance Theory from three aspects as cognitive environment, Ostensive-inferential communication and the Principle of Relevance. Firstly, this research analyzes strengths and weaknesses of cognitive context, points out the problem that the cognitive context of Relevance Theory can not provide proper interpretation of Chinese communication, and then proposes to construct an Integral Context Mode with the core elements of logical information, lexical-grammatical information, pragmatic subject information, and socio-cultural information in Chinese communication and cognition. Secondly, for the shortfalls in respect of monotonous inferential category and contextual problem of pragmatic inference, this research analyzes characteristics of the Ostensive-inference in Chinese Communication, and puts forward that other categories of pragmatic inference include imagery inference, mapping inference and experiential inference, besides deductive inference Relevance Theory raises. Finally, as for the representation of nativization of the Principle of Relevance, this dissertation raises that there is an interaction between the Largest Relevance and Optimal Relevance and finds Sub-optimal Relevance and Optimal Relevance coexist in Chinese communication and cognition. During the nativizational exploration of Relevance Theory, the dissertation also finds that the causes of characteristics of Chinese communication and cognition have a solid basis in Chinese culture, Chinese philosophy, and Chinese national psychology, such as Savvy Culture, the Doctrine of the Mean Culture, Unified Philosophy, and modest and harmonious national psychological mind-set.The research has theoretic and methodological significance and viewpoint innovation. Theoretically, this study constructs a systemic nativization hypothesis of foreign linguistic theories, including its definition, necessity, rationale, goals and routes. Methodologically, this study implants Relevance Theory into the land of Chinese language against a sentence-by-sentence analysis of the discourse of Mo Yan’s novel “Frog”, observes the suitability of Relevance Theory for the explanation of Chinese communication on the basis of relevant linguistic facts and advances propositions for the verification, amendment and development of Relevance Theory. Lastly, as for the viewpoint innovation, in line with the conception that “a context is a psychological construct” and the Principle of Relevance, this dissertation proposes a new Integral Context Mode, pragmatic inference categories and the extended Principle of Relevance in Chinese communication and cognition.