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Amen and Hallelujah preaching: Discourse functions in African American sermons

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  25 February 2003

CHERYL WHARRY
CHERYL WHARRY
Affiliation:
Department of Language and Literature, Columbus State University, Columbus, Georgia 31907, wharry_cheryl@colstate.edu
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Abstract

Numerous discourse markers have been examined in conversation and lecture contexts, but research is sparse on markers in the sermon genre and on the religious discourse communities in which sermons occur. This article examines discourse marker functions of sermonic expressions frequent in performed African American sermons (e.g. Amen, Hallelujah, Praise God). Functions identified include those of textual boundary marker, spiritual maintenance filler, rhythmic marker, and the infrequent call-response marker. Results support the importance of the role that culture (here, African oral tradition) plays in sermon performance.

Keywords

African American Englishsermonsreligious discoursediscourse analysisdiscourse markersgenre
Type
Research Article
Information
Language in Society , Volume 32 , Issue 2 , April 2003 , pp. 203 - 225
Copyright
© 1971 Cambridge University Press

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