Metaphor and Relevance*

Metaphor is non-literal use of language and is frequently used in everyday language in spite of the widespread opinion that it is part of literary language only. The most active kinds of metaphors demand considerable interpretative work besides the decoding of their semantics. Semantic decoding will simply give us the Vehicle concept. This chapter gives a sketch of Sperber and Wilson&s;s Theory of Relevance and suggests how it can be usefully modified to provide a more comprehensive account. Creating contextual implications is one kind of Contextual Effect – others are the strengthening or elimination of existing assumptions – and the greater the Contextual Effects the greater the relevance. However, the number and degree of Contextual Effects is only one factor in computing relevance. The second factor is Processing Effort. Relevance Theory can give us an insight into the distinctions between literal and metaphorical language, and between Active and Inactive metaphors.