A Relevance-Theoretic Approach To Dynamic Generation Of News Context

Context is the environment which the existence and development of language depend on. It conditions the meaning and the use of linguistic expression. Likewise, news context is indispensable in the interpretation of news discourse. Therefore, a comprehensive and systematic study of news context is of great importance to the domestic news communication practice and the global trans-context news communication. On the basis of the studies of context, according to the features of news and communication rules, and from the perspective of relevance theory, this thesis conducts a systematic analysis of the components, generation principles and functions of news context.The thesis firstly makes a review of linguistic on the studies of context. Special attention is paid to the studies of context in western linguistic circles since the twenties of last century. Though it is generally believed that the intensive studies of context in China began in the 1980s, the Chinese ancient scholars, in fact, had mastered the application and setting-up of context during the Pre- Qin period, which provides the evidence that the study of context in China can date back to four thousand years ago.The thesis, within the framework of relevance theory, sets out to study the generation principles of news context and attempts to propose the "field effect" of news context, which means that all people, whether they realize it or not, are influenced imperceptibly by the news context field and produce speeches and behaviors accordingly. Dynamic transformation of news context is also under discussion and it holds that news context is 'dialectical, infiltrated, and dynamic'. With regard to the existing form of news context, it puts forward the concept of pseudo-environment.The significance and function of news context to news communication is also investigated in the thesis. Based on relevance theory and the features of news communication, three functions are summarized: the interpretive function, restrictive function, and adjustive function. Meanwhile, the application of news context in communication practice is probed. Based on the opitimal relevance proposed by relevance theory and the dynamic generation principles, agenda-setting theory is put forward, which provides theoretical foundation for the attainment of the communication objective. In addition, the thesis delves into the causes and differences between Sino- American news context in trans-context and makes a comparison between different conceptions of news communication ideas. In today's global communication era, the communication pattern of "the West is stronger" has not been changed fundamentally. In the practice of trans-context news communication, the use of multiple perspectives and the respect for the national cultures can deal with the conflict caused by a wide range of values and bridge the gap of different news contexts. This dissertation intends to help Chinese news media to employ context theories in trans-context communication and take the initiative to break the western domination, and eventually spread the voice of China throughout the world.