Application Of Relevance Theory To Text Interpretation Of David Copperfield

The thesis stresses the classic ideas based on the previous study on relevance theory and explores the implications of relevance theory for text interpretation with the examples of David Copperfield. In line with relevance theory, communication is an ostension-inferential process which is based on the cognitive context. The optimal relevance is the principle to guide the successful communication. Text interpretation as a literary communication between the writer and the reader is ostension-inferential and suitable to be explained by relevance theory.From the first edition of Relevance:Communication and Cognition, many linguists make the research on the cognitive theory of communication. Relevance theory is applied in many fields such as psychology, translation and so on. The thesis analyzes the nature and characteristics of text interpretation based on the introduction of the relevance theory. Text interpreting is an ostension-inferential process which is based on the cognitive context and tends to find the optimal relevance. The thesis discusses the relevance theory's positive significance for text interpretation from four aspects. First for the vocabulary, the thesis emphasizes the function of relevance theory in interpretation from disambiguation and reference assignment. Second, from the syntactic point of view, special sentence pattern and paragraph may be the obstacles while interpreting; relevance theory provides us valid interpretation of the writer's communicative intention. In addition, by means of relevance theory, we have a more thorough understanding of metaphor, irony and other rhetorical devices. Finally, we discuss mainly about the cultural default and bridging reference in terms of discourse coherence. By the review of relevance theory and application, relevance theory is powerful in interpreting the works and it has positive significance. The interpretation of text is from the angle of communication according to relevance theory. Relevance theory did not neglect the traditional code mode. Sperber and Wilson combined the code mode and the inference mode and raised the ostensive-inferential communicative mode. Relevance theory raises the interpreting process from a brand-new angle. The process involves three-dimensional interaction among the writer, the readers and the text. And the application of relevance theory to text interpretation has its practical significance on teaching. At last, we conclude that relevance theory does play an important role in text reading.