Theory of Relevance

The Theory of Relevance is a framework in linguistics and communication that explains how people interpret and prioritize information based on its usefulness in a given context. It suggests that when we communicate, we aim to share information that is both relevant and informative enough to meet our needs without being overwhelming. Our minds automatically select the most relevant pieces of information, balancing effort and importance, to understand messages efficiently. Essentially, the theory describes how we filter and focus on the most relevant cues during conversation to make interactions clear and meaningful.