Code-Mixing in Religious Sermons: A Linguistic Analysis of Pentecostal Pastors in Enugu State

This study analyses patterns of code-mixing in the religious sermons of Pentecostal pastors in Enugu State, South East Nigeria, examining how the mixing of English, Igbo, and Nigerian Pidgin English in religious discourse serves theological, social, and rhetorical functions. Pentecostal Christianity is among the most dynamic religious movements in contemporary Nigeria, and its expressive communication culture, characterised by spontaneity, emotive address, and audience participation, makes religious sermons a particularly rich context for the study of multilingual language use. The study collects audio recordings of ten Sunday sermons from five Pentecostal churches in Enugu Metropolis, stratified to include both megachurches and mid-sized congregations. Transcription and linguistic analysis of the recordings examines the distribution of English, Igbo, and Pidgin English segments, the triggers for switching between codes, and the specific rhetorical effects achieved by each language within the sermon context. Findings indicate that pastors switch to Igbo predominantly for emotional appeals, communal solidarity expression, and traditional wisdom invocations, while Pidgin is deployed for humour, colloquial illustration of biblical principles, and direct address to younger congregants. English maintains its prestige function in formal theological instruction and biblical quotation. The study identifies a distinctive Pentecostal homiletical code-mixing pattern that differs from both secular conversation and formal academic English. Recommendations include studies of parallel religious language practices across other Nigerian geopolitical zones for comparative analysis. Keywords: code-mixing, Pentecostal sermons, Igbo, religious discourse, Enugu State.