Combining communication with cognitive linguistics, relevance theory argues that language communication is an ostensive-inferential process, where inference plays a vital role. 对人类交际的关联理论进行探讨，并结合话语交际实践，提出语言交际是一个明示推理过程，是必须依靠推理来进行的新的语用学观念。
Similarly, listening comprehension is a process in which listeners make pragmatic inference according to the context so as to achieve contextual effect and optimal relevance. 而听力理解的目的就是从话语所提供的语境中进行语用推理，力求语境效果，寻求最佳关联。
