A DISCOURSE ANALYSIS OF JESUS' CONVERSATION WITH THE SAMARITAN WOMAN

CHAPTER ONE

1.1 GENERAL INTRODUCTION

Over the years, several researches have been conducted in the field of discourse analysis with various definitions given to it. Brown and Yule (1983:1) opine that "the analysis of discourse is necessarily the analysis of language in use".

Ambiguity is the word used by Stubb (1993:1) to describe discourse analysis. He says; "the term discourse analysis is very ambiguous - to refer to mainly the linguistic analysis of naturally occurring connected spoken or written discourse".

Cooks (1996:1) argues that "although the main focus of discourse analysis is on language, it is not concerned with language alone. It also examines the concept of communication".

1.4 JUSTIFICATION

Some researchers have conducted investigations into the Holy Bible using discourse analysis. For instance, Balogun's "A Discourse Analysis of selected parables of Jesus Christ (2010)". However, as at the period of this study to the best of our knowledge, no researcher has used discourse analysis to analyze Jesus' conversation with the Samaritan woman.

Moreover, "A discourse analysis of Jesus' conversation with the Samaritan woman" will not only add to the knowledge bank but it will show how effectively discourse analysis can be used in decoding meaning in conversations in the Holy Bible which has been described by many as being more spiritual than psychological.

1.5 METHODOLOGY

Our primary data will be drawn from the New International Version of the Holy Bible because of its simplicity and general acceptability. The data will be as recorded by Saint John chapter four (John 4). It will be presented excluding the writer's comments in an exchange structure format. The elements of discourse analysis found within shall be used alongside some pragmatic elements.

A DISCOURSE ANALYSIS OF JESUS’ CONVERSATION WITH THE SAMARITAN WOMAN

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