A Critical Discourse Analysis of a Friday Sermon in Akre District

Sagvan Sofi Bapir; Ismail Abdulrahman Abdulla

doi:10.21271/zjhs.29.SpB.40

المؤلفون

Sagvan Sofi Bapir Department of English, College of Languages, Salahaddin University-Erbil, Kurdistan Region, Iraq
Ismail Abdulrahman Abdulla Department of Translation Techniques, Erbil Administrative Technical Institute, Erbil Polytechnic University, Erbil, Kurdistan Region, Iraq

DOI:

https://doi.org/10.21271/zjhs.29.SpB.40

الكلمات المفتاحية:

Friday Sermon, Critical Discourse Analysis, Fairclough’s Three-Dimensional Framework, Religious Discourse, Akre District

الملخص

This study examines the use of religious language in a Friday sermon, analysing a sermon delivered in Akre District, Kurdistan. Despite the fact that Friday sermon is a primary tool of communication in the Islamic community. Friday sermons have rarely been critically examined in Kurdistan Region, particularly in Akre District. The research aims at identifying linguistic patterns, rhetorical strategies, and sociocultural influences within this sermon using the three-dimensional framework of Critical Discourse Analysis proposed by Fairclough (1989), which includes textual analysis, discursive practice, and sociocultural practice. A qualitative method was applied to analyse a purposively selected sermon. The study used textual and contextual data, including spoken and written transcripts. The analysis revealed how the khatib used language to connect historical and contemporary events, emphasising justice and accountability when challenging oppression. The findings indicated how religious discourse can raise consciousness and awareness of people, influence sociopolitical thought, and promote social change, making language a powerful tool for transformation.

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