Nnadiebube Journal of Education

Nigeria’s linguistic diversity creates a complex sociolinguistic environment in which language plays a crucial role in social interaction, identity construction, and institutional communication. Religious institutions represent one of the most significant domains of language use in Nigerian society, where multilingual communication is frequently observed. This study investigates language use in Nigerian religious communities from a sociolinguistic perspective, focusing on language choice, multilingual practices, and code-switching in religious discourse. Using a qualitative research design, data were collected through participant observation and semi-structured interviews within selected Christian and Muslim congregations. The study examines how English, indigenous languages, Nigerian Pidgin, and sacred languages function in religious communication. Findings reveal that language choice in religious settings is influenced by factors such as audience diversity, cultural identity, accessibility, and institutional traditions. Code-switching emerges as an important communicative strategy that enhances participation and facilitates comprehension among multilingual congregations. The study contributes to sociolinguistic scholarship on language and religion by demonstrating how religious communities serve as dynamic sites of linguistic negotiation and cultural expression in multilingual societies.

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