Speech Acts as a Tool of Change in Religious Complimentary Messages of Selected Pentecostal Churches

Abstract

This work examined the way language operates in the domain of religious discourse. The way and manner in which language was manipulated to produce impact by notable clerics in their messages was examined. This study set out to investigate the types of speech acts that characterize the language of religious complimentary messages. The research applied the speech acts theory by Searle, 1969 as the theoretical framework. The data for the analysis comprised of the complimentary messages by four (4) general overseers of four (4) churches, namely: The Redeemed Christian Church, The Living Faith Church AKA Winners Church and The Living spring Chapel International. The study discovered that commissives dominated the texts as the messages were characterised by predictions, prophecies and promises to give hope and anticipation for better things. This is followed by the representatives in the degree of occurrence because it is used to give background information and explanation with the use of sub acts of stating, informing, reporting, affirming etc. This is followed by the expressive, declarations and directives respectively The study concluded that the clerics have skilfully manipulated linguistic and rhetorical resources to pass messages to the people and to assure and motivate them to a change of lifestyle and better way of life in the society.