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The language of church
• The concept of language as well as the varied uses to which
man puts it, is pretty intriguing. These language associated
complexities are usually brought to the fore* if they are
intrinsically and consciously examined in relation to the
society in which language is used. Language, like man or
other living organisms, has a fluid nature with the capacity
to adapt to any situation, context, place, time or to any
given shape, form or use as determined by its users. The
various uses to which a society puts a given language at any
given time or place constitute the varieties of that
language. The language varieties informed by Christian
religious adherents in the context of church sermons are
also very interensting.
• *to bring to the fore/to come to the fore: venire allo
scoperto
• Some of the peculiar linguistic/stylistic
features examined include the use of complex
sentences, register, diction, anaphora,
repetition, archaisms, tone, and rhetorical
questions.
• Christians, especially the clergy, employ different
linguistic resources to achieve communication goals in
different religious contexts like teaching or preaching
(sermons), prayers, songs or Christian literature. The
use of language in sermon delivery is either targeted at
the “conversion” of “sinners” or the “instruction” of
Christians, and is usually manifested as
encouragement, motivation, exhortation, persuasion,
rebuke*, correction or warning. In all cases, the goal is
to re-echo the words of Apostle Paul in Timothy that
“all scripture is given by inspiration of God and is
profitable for doctrine, for reproof, for correction, for
instruction in righteousness” (KJV)
• *rebuke: rimprovero.
A matter of style
• An investigation into the language of church
sermons is, to some extent, that of style.
• Crystal and Davy identify linguistic variables
such as individuality, dialect, time, province,
status, modality and singularity as markers of
style
• The language of sermons has its appropriate
diction, vocabulary or expressions that
distinguish it from those of other fields of
human endeavour*. The defining feature of
these linguistic varieties is what Yule identifies
as jargon. He defines jargon as a “special
technical vocabulary” which “helps to create
and maintain connections among those who
see themselves as “insiders” in some way and
to exclude outsiders
• *endeavour: impresa
• A sermon is simply a talk on a moral or religious
subject, usually given by a religious leader during
a church service.
• The divine characterization of sermons usually
puts the preacher and the audience in a
positional asymmetry with the former on the
higher plane.
• Consequently, sermons are often delivered
without any appeal to the hearer’s sentiments,
personal opinions, ego, status, culture,
expectations or their face.
A conative function
• Sermons serve a “hortatory‟ or teaching
communicative function. This concept is an
adaptation of Norman Jacobson’s analysis of the
communication act. Jacobson classifies sermons
under “conative” function of communication –
messages with conative functions are directed
towards the reader or listener (the audience)
• NOTE: The syntactic as well as semantic aspects
of sermons reflect religious language, which is
usually dogmatic and rigid.
Jakobson’s model
• Jakobson's model of the functions of language
distinguishes six elements, or factors of
communication, that are necessary for
communication to occur: (1) context,
• (2) addresser (sender),
• (3) addressee (receiver),
• (4) contact,
• (5) common code
• (6) message.
functions
• Each factor is the focal point of a relation, or function, that
operates between the message and the factor.
• The functions are the following, in order: (1) referential ("The
Earth is round"), (2) emotive ("bleah”), (3) conative ("Come
here"), (4) phatic ("Hello?"), (5) metalingual ("What do you
mean by ‘to urge'?"), and (6) poetic (focuses on "the message
for its own sake" ).
• When we analyze the functions of language for a given unit
(such as a word, a text or an image), we specify to which class
or type it belongs (e.g., a textual or pictorial genre), which
functions are present/absent, and the characteristics of these
functions, including the hierarchical relations and any other
relations that may operate between them.
Agricultural Register
• Most biblical settings are agrarian. This, no
doubt, accounts for the extensive use of
agricultural terms in most biblical books,
including the timeless teachings of Christ in
the New Testament. However, the agricultural
terms used in sermon contexts usually have
different semantic senses from their strict or
conventional agricultural meanings.
Legal Register
• The word “witness” in a biblical sense
connotes divine approval or certification
evidenced in signs and wonders or miracles,
whereas a “witness” in legal parlance is a
“human being‟ who gives evidence in the law
court to prove or authenticate a claim
Anaphora and Repetition
• These two stylistic elements are greatly employed by
the cleric.
• Anaphora is a scheme of repetition in which the same
word or a group of words is used to begin successive
clauses or sentences.
• The following expressions have elements of repetition:
• “I say where you are now, Satan can’t come.
• I say where you are Satan cannot come.
• I say from today, Satan will have no way to enter your
houses.”
Rhetorical Questions
• A question that does not require a direct
response is rhetorical. Its use in the sermon is
no doubt intended to enhance the interest,
attention or participation of the congregation.
What is a rhetorical question?
It is a question that is asked for effect, where the answer
may sometimes be obvious or it may help the listener to
understand the message. A verbal answer is not
expected. Additionally we can ask why are the use of
rhetorical questions helpful in preaching? Such
questions invite people to think, question, analyse,
examine and evaluate. The need for such questions also
aids the application of the truths of God. A preacher
should not be simply 'giving out' information. The
preacher needs to connect with his audience so that
they can meaningfully apply the truth of God's Word
and the use of rhetorical questions in preaching can
help that to happen.
• Language is a means to an end in human affairs.
In other words, individuals within a given society
consciously employ linguistic resources to
achieve both communicative and social goals.
• The use of language is sometimes defined by an
individual's peculiar linguistic habits or that of a
particular group of people. Therefore, group
membership as typified by Christian religious
affiliations is a strong factor in determining the
extent to which a given society affects its
language or languages.
• The Lord Jesus used Rhetorical Questions
The Sermon on the Mount illustrates this
perfectly. Matthew 5: 13 'You are the salt of
the earth, but if salt has lost its taste, how
shall its saltiness be restored?'. Matthew 12:
12 'Of how much more value is a man than a
sheep!'.