Phonological Features, Meaning Construction and Sociocultural Identity of Selected Nigerian Preachers in English Christian Sermons
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Date
2026-07-30
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OLABISI ONABANJO UNIVERSITY
Abstract
Keywords: Christian Sermons, Nigerian English, Phonology, Meaning, and Sociocultural Identity
Description
The phonology of Nigerian English has attracted considerable scholarly attention. Relatively little research has examined how phonological features in Nigerian Christian sermons. This is to contribute to meaning, emphasis, persuasion, and the communication of social realities. Most previous studies focused on the structural description of Nigerian English. This is with limited attention to sermon discourse. This study investigated the patterns of consonant and vowel production in selected Nigerian Christian sermons.
The study adopted a qualitative research design. This is supported by acoustic phonetic analysis. The data consisted of recorded online sermons delivered by six Nigerian Christian preachers. These were selected from the three major ethnolinguistic groups in Nigeria. The participants included Apostle Joshua Selman and Christie Bature (Hausa), Philip Olubakin and Tosin Ajibs (Yoruba), and Jerry Eze and Helen Ukpabio (Igbo). The sermon recordings were converted into wave audio files. These were analysed using Praat version 6.3.17. The study was theoretically grounded in segmental phonological theory, systemic functional linguistics theory and indexicality theory. The analysis focused on the consonants /θ/, /ð/, /ʃ/, /ʒ/, /dʒ/, and /v/, and the vowels /ʌ/, /ɜː/, and /ə/.
The findings revealed systematic patterns. The consonant analysis showed consistent substitution of the interdental fricatives /θ/ and /ð/ with the alveolar plosives /t/ and /d/. Meanwhile, other consonant sounds exhibited stable patterns that reflected established features of Nigerian English. The vowel analysis revealed limited schwa reduction, sustained vowel articulation, and vowel strengthening. The study further found that these phonological features contributed to meaning, emphasis, persuasion, appreciation, and emotional expression. The findings showed that the pronunciation patterns conveyed important social realities.
The study concluded that the phonological features identified in the sermons were systematic characteristics of Nigerian English. The study recommended greater attention to discourse-based phonological research, wider application of acoustic phonetic methods in Nigerian English studies, and increased recognition of Nigerian English as a legitimate variety within World Englishes scholarship.
Keywords: Christian Sermons, Nigerian English, Phonology, Meaning, and Sociocultural Identity
Word Count: 393
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Citation
OKUNOLA A.O. (2026). Phonological Features, Meaning Construction and Sociocultural Identity of Selected Nigerian Preachers in English Christian Sermons. [Master's Dissertation] repository.oouagoiwoye.edu.ng.