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A Comparative Analysis of the Pragmatic Functions of “Amen” in Mainstream Protestant and Pentecostal Churches in Cameroon

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Abstract

One of the words that all Christians agree upon is ‘Amen’. Although many do not know its exact meaning, as informal observations have shown, there is tacit consensus over one of its functions, namely Gospel truth marker. Over the years and following the various developments in the Christian faith, the word has acquired new functions according to the obedience. This paper sets out to investigate the pragmatic functions of ‘Amen’ as used in two different religious trends, namely mainstream Protestant Churches and Pentecostal Churches. The data were collected in one prototypical parish of each trend through participant observation, tape-recording, and field note. Basically, one church service from each trend was randomly selected and transcribed. The analysis of the data revealed that each trend seems to assign different functions to ‘Amen’. In fact, while mainstream Protestant Churches have kept its traditional conclusion and Gospel truth marker illocutionary force, New-Born Churches add to these the phatic communion and power marker among others. The stakes are both communicative and political since the quality of the service, in terms of faithful involvement, may influence the future of both religious trends in the country. This communicative influence spills over the political one as these new functions are slowly but steadily making their way into some traditional churches in the country.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. The University of Maroua, 55, Maroua, Cameroon

    Antoine Willy Ndzotom Mbakop

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  1. Antoine Willy Ndzotom Mbakop
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Correspondence to Antoine Willy Ndzotom Mbakop.

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Ndzotom Mbakop, A.W. A Comparative Analysis of the Pragmatic Functions of “Amen” in Mainstream Protestant and Pentecostal Churches in Cameroon. Corpus Pragmatics 2, 333–349 (2018). https://doi.org/10.1007/s41701-018-0032-4

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s41701-018-0032-4

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