Semantic expressions of conflict and emotion in African religious prayers: a cross-tradition analysis

This paper explores the semantic expressions of conflict and emotion in prayers across African indigenous religions, Christianity, and Islam, examining their role in spiritual discourse and communal cohesion. Addressing the universal human experience of grappling with intense emotions and existential challenges, this study investigates how prayers from religious contexts articulate and address conflicts through semantic choices, contributing to spiritual resilience and communal identity. The objectives are to analyze patterns of conflict and emotional expression through semantic analysis and to explore how these expressions contribute to theological understandings and social cohesion. Data are drawn from religious texts and practices, including imprecatory Psalms and Yoruba rhythmic prayers. Employing qualitative analysis, the study focuses on semantic features, such as lexical choices and the semantic function of figurative language, rather than general linguistic features. Utilizing Appraisal Theory and Critical Discourse Analysis, the research investigates how emotions are linguistically constructed and how language shapes and reflects cultural norms, spiritual beliefs, and social dynamics. Findings indicate that prayers serve not only as personal supplications but also as communal expressions of resilience, solidarity, and ethical values, providing pathways for believers to navigate conflicts, seek spiritual guidance, and reinforce communal bonds through the nuanced use of semantic expressions.