The language of church

1. 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

2. Some of the peculiar linguistic/stylistic features examined include the use of complex sentences, register, diction, anaphora, repetition, archaisms, tone, and rhetorical questions.

3. 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.

4. 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

5. 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

6. 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.

7. 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.

8. 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.

9. 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.

10. 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.

11. 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

12. 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.”

13. 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.

14. 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.

15. 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.

16. The Lord Jesus used Rhetorical QuestionsThe 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!'.