Abstract: This study investigates perlocutionary acts in
religious discourse, specifically the testimony speeches at Koinonia Ministry,
Abuja. Studies in religious discourse have investigated rhetorical choices,
deixis in sermons to establish religious identity, speech acts, and pragmatic
functions in religious communications. However, this study examines the
perlocutionary force in miracle services as an aspect of religious activities.
This study draws from the theoretical perspectives of John Austin’s Speech Act
Theory to reveal the perlocutionary feedback of the realisation of locutionary
and illocutionary acts in religious interactions. The data were excerpts
gathered from the Koinonia Miracle Services from November 2025 to February
2026. Fifteen (15) miracle conversations between Apostle and the testifiers
employing LIP (Locution, Illocution and Perlocution) acts and the data were
subjected to pragmatic analysis. The findings reveal the dominance of
interrogative, imperative and declarative discourse functions, and were used to
structure and elicit testimonies from the testifiers as well as proclaim,
validate and seal the testimonies. It is also found that the perlocutionary
effects of emotional release, physical demonstration of healing, strengthened
belief and collective participation of the congregation alongside the testifiers
emanate from their speech acts. The study contributes to research in pragmatics
and religious discourse by showing that the functions of language in miracle
services are beyond mere exchange of information or instructions, but operate
as a social action which has effects that shapes individual and collective
beliefs in faith as precursor for miracle.
Keywords: religious discourse, Speech Act, perlocutionary act, miracle service, Nigeria
DOI: 10.36349/atij.2026.v02i01.009
author/Pane, A.Y., Ajakaye, D.O. & Kareem, S.
journal/Al-Takamul IJ 2(1) | July 2026 |
