A Speech Act Analysis of Selected Christian Religious Print Advertisements in Ilorin, Nigeria

This study explores the use of speech acts in Christian Religious Print Advertisements (handbills) within the Ilorin Metropolis, aiming to expound how language functions to persuade and influence the audience towards religious engagement and participation. Through a qualitative analysis of selected advertisements, the research identified and categorized the predominant speech acts, such as assertive, declaratives, commissives and expressive, employed in these adverts. For adequate analysis of the data, seventy Christian handbills were collected from Churches and ministries in Ilorin, Kwara state, Nigeria. Ten out of the seventy handbills were randomly selected as the data used in carrying out the research. The findings revealed that declaratives, affirmatives and expressive are frequently used in the analysed handbills to invoke religious feelings and call the audience to action. This analysis not only enriches the understanding of language use in religious advertisements, but also provides insights into the persuasive strategies of religious organisations in a culturally diverse context like the North central Nigeria.