3. Relate what you say to the topic being discussed. Link your messages to the purpose of the conversation and interpret the messages of others in line with the topic at hand. For example, Barry asks, “Who’s going to pick up Mom from work today?”

His brother answers, “I’ve got a big test tomorrow.” Barry assumes that his brother’s remark is relevant to the topic at hand and interprets it as, “I can’t; I have to study.”

Barry was able to correctly understand the pragmatic meaning of his brother’s answer because he assumed that it was relevant to figuring out how to get their mother home.