Power of Discourse in Ritual Performance

Book Description

Discover how language becomes a transformative force within the sacred space of ritual. This scholarly exploration reveals the profound ways that spoken words and discourse shape spiritual experiences, relationships, and entire worldviews during ceremonial practices.

Drawing from extensive fieldwork across South Asia, Southeast Asia, Africa, and South America, this collection examines how ritual participants use speech as a powerful tool for transformation. The book illuminates how speakers within ceremonial contexts can reshape interpersonal dynamics, redefine cultural meanings, and alter fundamental perspectives on reality itself.

Through detailed case studies, readers encounter the intricate dance between tradition and innovation that occurs when people engage in ritual discourse. The work demonstrates how ceremonial speech operates on multiple levels simultaneously, affecting both intimate personal interactions and broader social structures. Each contribution includes authentic examples of ritual language, offering readers direct access to the voices and expressions that emerge within these sacred contexts.

The analysis bridges micro-level speech activities with macro-level social dynamics, revealing the subtle mechanisms through which authority, influence, and transformation operate in ritual settings. By examining the relationship between speakers, listeners, and audiences, this volume uncovers how ceremonial discourse creates space for both adherence to tradition and creative expression.

For those interested in understanding how language functions as a vehicle for spiritual and social change, this work provides valuable insights into the dynamic interplay between words, meaning, and transformation in ritual contexts.