Humor and the search for relevance

In this paper, Sperber and Wilsonʹs Relevance theory is analyzed as to its explanation of how humorous interpretations are produced. The main foundation of this cognitive theory is the hypothesis that human beings rely on one single interpretive principle, which they invariably use in their attempt to select the interlocutorsʹ intended interpretation. This principle states that the first interpretation which provides an optimal balance of interest-cognitive effects-and mental effort, is the one that the speaker possibly intends to communicate, and hence it is the one selected, and interpretation stops at this point. As will be shown in the article, this theoretical claim is valid for any type of ostensive communication (in which communicators intend to make mutually manifest to the addressee some information), humorous utterances included. Besides, the steps involved in this interpretive procedure may be predicted to a greater or lesser extent, which provides communicators with the key to the necessary control over the eventual interpretation of their humorous discourse.