PRAGMATIC FEATURES OF RHETORIC DEVICES IN SELECTED SERMONS OF PAUL ENENCHE

Abstract

This study investigates the pragmatic import of rhetorical devices in the sermon of Paul Enenche, the Senior Pastor of the Dunamis International Gospel Centre.. Two recorded CDs of his sermons were transcribed for the purpose of identifying the rhetorical devices contained therein. The transcribed sermons were subjected to analysis using P. H. Grice’s (1975) Cooperative Principle to determine the rhetorical devices whose usage flouted any of the cooperative maxims. The pragmatic functions of the rhetorical devices derived were also analysed and discussed. The findings of the study revealed that the Nigerian Pentecostal clergy rely heavily on rhetorical devices, as linguistic resources, to make their sermons impactful, memorable and persuasive. It was also discovered that these preachers use these rhetorical devices to heighten their audience’s emotion as well as ensure their participation in their sermonic discourse.