TABLE OF CONTENTS
DECLARATION………………………………………………………………………………………………………. i
DEDICATION……………………………………………………………………………………………………………. ii
ACKNOWLEDGEMENT…………………………………………………………………………………………… iii
ABSTRACT………………………………………………………………………………………………………………… iv
TABLE OF CONTENTS………………………………………………………………………………………….. v-ix
LIST OF TABLES……………………………………………………………………………………………………….. x
LIST OF FIGURES………………………………………………………………………………………………… xi-xii
LIST OF ABBREVIATIONS……………………………………………………………………………………. xiii
CHAPTER ONE: GENERAL INTRODUCTION………………………………………………………… 1
- Introduction…………………………………………………………………………………………………………………. 1
CHAPTER TWO: LITERATURE REVIEW AND THEORETICAL FRAMEWORK…. 9
- Introduction…………………………………………………………………………………………………………………… 9
- What is Sermon?………………………………………………………………………………………………….. 9-10
- Sermon as Text………………………………………………………………………………………………………. 10-12
- Sermon as Communication………………………………………………………………………………………. 12-13
- The Present Study……………………………………………………………………………………………………….. 13
- Theoretical Framework…………………………………………………………………………………………… 13-14
- Systemic Functional Grammar (SFG)……………………………………………………………………….. 14-19
- Context of Situation……………………………………………………………………………………………….. 19-20
- The Interpersonal Metafunction……………………………………………………………………………….. 20-23
- Tone and Mood in interpersonal Meaning………………………………………………………………… 23-24
- Studies on Interpersonal Meaning in Sermons……………………………………………………………. 24-29
- Studies Using SFG……………………………………………………………………………………………….. 29-33
- Metalanguages for Interpersonal Meaning……………………………………………………………………… 33
- Declarative Mood………………………………………………………………………………………………………….. 34
- Interrogative Mood…………………………………………………………………………………………………. 34-35
- Imperative Mood…………………………………………………………………………………………………………. 35
- The Subject……………………………………………………………………………………………………………… 35-36
- The Finite Element………………………………………………………………………………………………………… 36
- Tense        36
- Modality  36-37
- Polarity     37
- Vocatives………………………………………………………………………………………………………………. 37-38
CHAPTER THREE: METHODOLOGY AND DATA COLLECTION………………………. 39
- Introduction………………………………………………………………………………………………………………….. 39
- Research Design…………………………………………………………………………………………………….. 39-40
- Study Population, Sampling Technique and Sample Size…………………………………………….. 40-41
- Background Information of Preachers……………………………………………………………………………. 41
- Archbishop Nicholas Duncan-Williams……………………………………………………………………….. 41-42
- (Dr.) Pastor Mensa Otabil…………………………………………………………………………………………….. 42
- Research Instrument…………………………………………………………………………………………………….. 43
- Data Collection………………………………………………………………………………………………………. 43-44
- Reasons for the Choice of Sermons……………………………………………………………………………….. 44
- Measurement of Data………………………………………………………………………………………………. 44-45
- Data Analysis and Presentation……………………………………………………………………………………. 45
- Background Information of Preachers……………………………………………………………………………. 41
CHAPTER FOUR: ANALYSIS OF DATA………………………………………………………………… 46
- Introduction………………………………………………………………………………………………………………….. 46
- Mood Choices………………………………………………………………………………………………………… 46-47
- Declarative Mood…………………………………………………………………………………………………….. 47-49
- The Subject in the Declaratives…………………………………………………………………………………… 49-53
- Modality in the Declaratives………………………………………………………………………………………. 53-56
- Polarity in the Declaratives………………………………………………………………………………………… 56-58
- Tense in the Declaratives……………………………………………………………………………………………. 58-59
- Interrogative Mood…………………………………………………………………………………………………. 59-62
- The Subject in the Interrogatives………………………………………………………………………………… 62-65
- Modality in the Interrogatives…………………………………………………………………………………………. 65
- Polarity in the Interrogatives……………………………………………………………………………………… 65-66
- Imperative Mood…………………………………………………………………………………………………………. 67
- Declarative Mood…………………………………………………………………………………………………….. 47-49
- Mood Choices………………………………………………………………………………………………………… 46-47
- The Subject in the Imperatives…………………………………………………………………………………. 67-69
- Polarity in the Imperatives……………………………………………………………………………………………. 70
- Tense in the Imperatives………………………………………………………………………………………….. 70-71
- Analysis of the Four Sermons…………………………………………………………………………………………. 71
- Duncan………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………… 71
- Mood Types…………………………………………………………………………………………………………….. 71-73
- Duncan………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………… 71
- The Subject……….. 73-75
- Modality                                                                                                                                   75-76
4.2.1.4 Tense…………………………………………………………………………………………………………. 76-78
- Polarity 78-79
- Otabil…………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………. 79
- Mood Types…………………………………………………………………………………………………………… 79-81
- The Subject……………………………………………………………………………………………………………… 81-83
- Modality 83-85
- Otabil…………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………. 79
4.2.2.4 Tense…………………………………………………………………………………………………………. 85-86
4.2.2.5 Polarity………………………………………………………………………………………………………. 86-87
- Comparative Analysis of the Four Sermons……………………………………………………………………… 87
- Mood Types…………………………………………………………………………………………………………….. 88-89
- The Subject……………………………………………………………………………………………………………… 89-91
- Modality………………………………………………………………………………………………………………….. 91-92
4.3.4 Tense…………………………………………………………………………………………………………….. 93-94
4.3.5 Polarity………………………………………………………………………………………………………….. 94-95
- Vocatives………………………………………………………………………………………………………………… 95-96
- Comparative Analysis of Vocatives……………………………………………………………………………….. 97
- Congregants‟ Responses to the Mood Choices of the Preachers…………………………………….. 97-100
CHAPTER FIVE: SUMMARY OF FINDINGS, CONCLUSION AND
RECOMMENDATIONS…………………………………………………………………………………………… 101
- Introduction………………………………………………………………………………………………………………… 101
- General Summary of Findings………………………………………………………………………………. 101-104
- Specific Findings Pertaining to the Two Preachers………………………………………………….. 104-105
- Conclusion…………………………………………………………………………………………………………. 105-106
- Recommendations………………………………………………………………………………………………. 106-107
REFERENCES………………….. 108-115
APPENDIX 1…………………………………………………………………………………………………….. 116-131
APPENDIX 2…………………………………………………………………………………………………….. 131-155
APPENDIX 3………………………………………………………………………………………………. AUDIO CD
LIST OF TABLES
Table 4.1 Mood Distribution in the Sermons Table 4.2 Subject Occurrences in the Sermons Table 4.3 Number of Occurrence of Modality Table 4.4 Number of Occurrence of Tense Table 4.5 Number of Occurrence of Polarity
LIST OF FIGURES
Figure 4.1 Mood Distribution in DUN S1 Figure 4.2 Mood Distribution in DUN S2 Figure 4.3 Subject Distribution in DUN S1 Figure 4.4 Subject Distribution in DUN S2 Figure 4.5 Modality Distribution in DUN S1 Figure 4.6 Modality Distribution in DUN S2 Figure 4.7 Tense Distribution in DUN S1 Figure 4.8 Tense Distribution in DUN S2 Figure 4.9 Polarity Distribution in DUN S1 Figure 4.10 Polarity Distribution in DUN S2 Figure 4.11 Mood Distribution in OTA S1 Figure 4.12 Mood Distribution in OTA S2 Figure 4.13 Subject Distribution in OTA S1 Figure 4.14 Subject Distribution in OTA S2 Figure 4.15 Modality Distribution in OTA S1 Figure 4.16 Modality Distribution in OTA S2 Figure 4.17 Tense Distribution in OTA S1 Figure 4.18 Tense Distribution in OTA S2 Figure 4.19 Polarity Distribution in OTA S1 Figure 4.20 Polarity Distribution in OTA S2
Figure 4.21 Comparative Distribution of Mood in DUN (S1 & S2) and OTA (S1 & S2) Figure 4.22 Comparative Distribution of Subject in DUN (S1 & S2) and OTA (S1 & S2) Figure 4.23 Comparative Distribution of Modality in DUN (S1 & S2) and OTA (S1 & S2) Figure 4.24 Comparative Distribution of Tense in DUN (S1 & S2) and OTA (S1 & S2)
Figure 4.25 Comparative Distribution of Polarity in DUN (S1 & S2) and OTA (S1 & S2)
LIST OF ABBREVIATIONS
| DECL | Declaratives |
| INT | Interrogatives |
| IMP | Imperatives |
| SFG | Systemic Functional Grammar |
| DUN | Duncan Williams |
| OTA | Mensa Otabil |
| S1 | Sermon Number 1 |
| S2 | Sermon Number 2 |
| DUN S1 | Duncan Williams Sermon Number 1 |
| DUN S2 | Duncan Williams Sermon Number 2 |
| OTA S1 | Mensa Otabil sermon Number 1 |
| OTA S2 | Mensa Otabil Sermon Number 2 |
CHAPTER ONE GENERAL INTRODUCTION
Introduction
The study examines how two Charismatic church preachers in Ghana establish interpersonal relationship with their congregants based on their Mood choices. This chapter discusses the general overview of this research and gives a brief theoretical and methodological framework within which the study is conducted.
Background to the Study
The study of discourse and persuasive speech (for instance, sermons and political speeches) has for some years now received great attention and interest in language studies although it has not been fully explored, especially in Ghana. Discourse studies have been relevant since the 1970s due to the notion that the study of language should not be restricted to the grammatical analysis of abstract language system but, rather, language use in social context (Van Dijk & Kintsch, 1983).
This study focuses on religious sermons as a means of communication between the preacher and the congregation and as a form of a multifaceted discourse (Koncar & Dobrovoljc, 2014). The sermon is transmitted as a message to the target audience who, then, interpret the message. This implies that sermon delivery involves a sender, a channel and a recipient. The participants in any discourse have social roles and relationships, and in each discourse, the participants produce or hear features of language that are typical of the activity involved (Taiwo, 2007). Through the exchange of verbal meaning, one could also determine who at any time already has the
information and the person to whom the information is directed with regard to any particular subject matter and the kind of social relations that exist between the speaker and his or her listeners. The kind of meaning encoded by the preacher as a questioner, information-giver, offerer or instructor, depends on the social role between the preacher and his or her congregation and the kind of social relationship that the preacher wishes to establish with them (congregation).
Sermon delivery has been an integral part of the main mission of Christianity and which includes the worship service of Charismatic churches (Foli, 2006). The message of the Christian faith, as preached by its members, is hortatory in nature (Cipriani, 2002) with the aim of winning the souls of men for Christ. Since the purpose of preaching is to save and cultivate souls, preaching must catch the attention and hold the interest of the listeners.
Currently, in Ghana, there is a strong emergence of Charismatic fervour among the Christian community (Kojok, 2007) although the Charismatic movement is the most recent expression of Christianity in Africa (Akrong, 1999-2001, p. 21). As a result, Charismatic churches have become prominent in the spreading of the gospel of Christ. This has increased the Christian population in Ghana to the extent that cinema halls and school premises have been converted to worship centres. An important aspect of the Charismatic evangelisation effort is the reliance on preaching of sermons. Indeed, they appear to invest so much in preaching that a good deal of effort is made to propagate the message to as many people as they come across. Charismatic preachers are very conscious of how they give out their message. They also tend to be quite flexible and less formal in the delivery of their messages compared to preachers of orthodox churches. They usually carry their congregations along by encouraging their participation (Taiwo, 2005). They typically believe in freedom of expression in worship as the Spirit leads and directs them (Kojok, 2007).
Although sermons are one-sided presentations (monologic), the attention of the congregation needs to be sustained by the preacher in the course of the delivery of the message so that they (the preacher and the congregation) will both become participants of the discourse. The style the preacher adopts and the way s/he organises the message determines the kind of relationship s/he establishes with the listeners to achieve the hortatory purpose. It is the preacher‟s communication techniques that make the delivery of a sermon participatory (Park, 2010).
The choice of a word, the person who makes that choice, the social or cultural circumstances surrounding the use of that word and the patterns that emerge from the choices are worth considering. To be able to investigate the question of how language empirically construes meaning interpersonally in sermons and the kind of relationship that is established between the interlocutors, one needs to start at the lexico-grammatical level and trace surface grammatical features that have to do with meaning, which is especially suitable for the analysis of discourse meanings and make it possible to convey the rich complexities at play between the discourse, semantic and lexico-grammatical levels for the genre under consideration. This study is motivated by the fact that sermons are pervaded by some strong ideological features inherent in the grammatical choices made by the preacher in meeting the expected goal of sermonic communication (Bankole & Ayoola, 2014). Thus, the fact that these two preachers exhibit different communication styles which enable them to attract and sustain large followers despite the back drop that sermons are monologic is the motivating factor for the study.
