How to understand barbarian speech in the eight directions : the new pragmatics irrelevance theory

Jocelyn Chey

Research output: Contribution to journalArticlepeer-review

Abstract

Irrelevance Theory, introduced to the international scholarly community for the first time in this paper, provides a pragmatic explanation of those forms of communication that are produced without due thought or premeditation, with no desire to secure agreement, or lacking understanding or consent, so that results, if any, are only achieved by accident. This theory was first developed by Chinese scholars, as can be attested by the centuries-old expression Hu shou ba dao [胡說八道], which itself can be traced back to the Eastern Jin Dynasty. Irrelevance Theory is particularly useful for analysis of classical and contemporary expressions in the Chinese language. Some relevant examples are provided, but the Theory’s usefulness is not restricted to Han culture, and other examples of its wider application are drawn from the author’s personal experience or quoted from press reports. Communication scholars should not be tempted to identify Irrelevance with methodologies such as wit or wordplay, or with psychological styles such as affiliating, self-enhancing, aggressive, or self-defeating communication. The Irrelevance Theory stands on its own merits. If it does not make sense, this is because it has neither sense nor sensibility.
Original languageEnglish
Pages (from-to)527-540
Number of pages14
JournalASAP Journal
Volume5
Issue number3
DOIs
Publication statusPublished - 2020

Keywords

  • communication
  • Chinese language

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