English Language and Communication in Christian Assemblies

Language, the medium through which people communicate their thoughts, feelings and aspirations to one another, is regarded as the most intimate possession of man as well as the most important form of communication and interaction employed by humans. The advent of the English language in Nigeria was championed by the Church Missionary Society and other Christian missions. The need to propagate the gospel to the nook and crannies of Nigeria effectively necessitated the introduction of literary education (ability to read and write), which was conducted in English. The products of these schools served, inter alia, as interpreters in the Churches, facilitating the propagation of the Christian religion in Nigeria which has about 522 local languages. Today, the common practice is for the main preacher to speak in English while another interprets the message into the local language of the Church members. Against this background, this paper examines the use of the English language in Christian assemblies in Nigeria.