Edumania-An International Multidisciplinary Journal
Vol-01, Issue-02 (Jul-Sep 2023)
An International scholarly/ academic journal, peer-reviewed/ refereed journal, ISSN : 2960-0006
Deictic Analysis Of Cohesive Markers In Religious Discourse
Ogbuehi, Patricia Nneka
Department of English and Literary Studies, Faculty of Arts, Management and Social Sciences, Admiralty University of Nigeria, Ibusa- Ogwuashi-Uku Expressway, Delta State
Page Numbers: 222–243
DOI: https://doi.org/10.59231/edumania/8986
Subject: Deictic Analysis, Cohesive Markers, Religious Discourse, Text Linguistics, Discourse Analysis
Received: Mar 22, 2023
Accepted: Jul 12, 2023
Published: Jul 20, 2023
Thematic Classification: Applied Linguistics, Discourse Studies, Language & Religion, Pragmatics
Abstract
This study investigates the deployment of deixis as cohesive markers in religious text drawing insight from theories of deixis and cohesion. The data for the study were generated from a religious sermon preached by Dr Daniel Kolawole Olukoya of Mountain of Fire and Miracles Ministries (MFM) during Manna Water programme held on Wednesday 22nd of September, 2021. With the use of quantitative and qualitative research methods, the study identifies the type of deixis used in the sermon, and their deployment as cohesive markers in the text. The findings reveal five different types of deixis that appeared as cohesive markers which include person deixis, spatial deixis, temporal deixis, discourse deixis and demonstrative deixis. The person deixis was used to designate the participants in the discourse, spatial deixis helps to focus the attention of listeners to the different locations mentioned in the sermon, temporal deixis was employed to make reference to different time periods during the sermon, discourse deixis appeared to linking linguistic elements and ideas in the text; while the demonstratives identify notional elements mentioned in the sermon. As cohesive devices, the person deixis, spatial deixis, temporal deixis and demonstratives function as references and substitution, while discourse deixis functions both as references, substitute and conjunctions to link linguistic elements and ideas in the text. The study concludes that the deictic elements used in the religious sermon function as an integral part of text creation to enhance cohesion in the text.
Keywords: Discourse, cohesion, deixis, conversation, sermon
Impact statement
This study investigates the deployment of deixis as cohesive markers in religious text. Deixis as linguistic communication pointers in a text allows readers to identify main elements of communicative act in a bid to decode textual meaning of a passage. They act as cohesive markers to create texture and enhance coherence in a text. The study of deixis in written text helps a language learner to have a clearer understanding of how text is formed, how meaning is encoded in text formation and how understanding of text is enhanced.
This study therefore is significant in helping second/foreign language learners and speakers of English language to understand how to create text using deixis as cohesive markers in there written composition. This study will as well give insight and equip language instructors with special tools on how to help their students to comprehend the decoding and encoding of meaning in their reading comprehension.
About author
My name is Patricia Nneka Ogbuehi (Nee Okafor) PhD. I was born in Ihioma of Orlu Local Government Area of Imo State and I am presently married in Akpulu, Ideato Local Government Area of Imo State. My secondary schooling was in Girls’ Secondary School Ihioma, Orlu and I hold B.A. (Ed) English from the University of Lagos, in Lagos State Nigeria. I hold M.A English and PhD English, all from Olabisi Onabanjo University, Ago Iwoye, Ogun State, Nigeria. I am presently a lecturer in the Department of English and Literary Studies in the Faculty of Arts, Management and Social Studies of Admiralty University of Nigeria, Ibusa, Asaba Delta State, Nigeria. I am a linguist majoring in Discourse Analysis, Pragmatics, Stylistics, Communication Studies, Applied Linguistics and Sociolinguistics.
Cite This Article
APA Style (7th Ed.): Ogbuehi, P. N. (2023). Deictic analysis of cohesive markers in religious discourse. Edumania-An International Multidisciplinary Journal, 1(2), 222–243. https://doi.org/10.59231/edumania/8986
Chicago Style (17th Ed.): Ogbuehi, Patricia Nneka. “Deictic Analysis of Cohesive Markers in Religious Discourse.” Edumania-An International Multidisciplinary Journal 1, no. 2 (2023): 222–243. https://doi.org/10.59231/edumania/8986.
MLA Style (9th Ed.): Ogbuehi, Patricia Nneka. “Deictic Analysis of Cohesive Markers in Religious Discourse.” Edumania-An International Multidisciplinary Journal, vol. 1, no. 2, 2023, pp. 222–243. International Council for Education Research and Training, https://doi.org/10.59231/edumania/8986.
Statements & Declarations
Authors’ Contribution: Patricia Nneka Ogbuehi is the sole author responsible for the conceptualization, data collection, quantitative and qualitative linguistic analyses, and the final preparation of this manuscript.
Peer Review: This paper underwent a formal double-blind peer-review process organized by the editorial board of ICERT to evaluate its theoretical framework, methodology, and contributions to pragmatics and discourse analysis.
Competing Interests: The author declares no competing financial, personal, or professional interests that could have influenced the research, data analysis, or interpretations presented in this paper.
Funding: The author received no specific grant, financial aid, or external funding from any funding agency in the public, commercial, or non-profit sectors for conducting or publishing this study.
Data Availability: The primary data analyzed in this study were derived from a sermon preached by Dr. Daniel Kolawole Olukoya during the Manna Water program on November 4, 2020, retrieved via the WhatsApp platform of Mountain of Fire and Miracles Ministries (Regional Headquarters, South West 156, Mowe, Ogun State).
Ethical Approval: The study analyzed public sermon discourse for academic research purposes and maintained adherence to ethical standards in qualitative discourse studies.
License: Deictic Analysis of Cohesive Markers in Religious Discourse © 2023 by Patricia Nneka Ogbuehi is published in Edumania-An International Multidisciplinary Journal by the International Council for Education Research and Training (ICERT).
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