As reported Language use parameters within church services

3.2 Language use parameters within church services

3.2.1 As reported

Kokoda SDA and Holy Trinity Church Anglican, Saga both use mainly English and Tok Pisin for all church services, as well as Sunday school and women’s groups. However, Holy Trinity Church also uses Kaina Ke, but not Biage, as reportedly most of the congregation is Kaina Ke and also the Assistant Priest is a Kaina Ke speaker. Kokoda SDA uses Biage but not Kaina Ke most of the congregation are Biage speakers, and the pastor is a Biage speaker; they also make use of some Motu and Orokaiva. For Isurava SDA, Pelai SDA, Kovelo CRC and St. Paul’s Anglican Chapel Kanga announcements and sermons are reportedy always in Biage. Scripture reading is mostly English, except that Isurava SDA also uses Mountain Koiali. Isurava SDA, Kovelo CRC and St. Paul’s Anglican Chapel all use Biage for spontaneous prayer; however Pelai SDA uses Tok Pisin. Songs are in English, Tok Pisin or other languages. 17 Only St. Paul’s Anglican Church reported using Biage primarily; the other three reported using it occasionally. Pelai SDA and Isurava SDA sing mainly in English. Kovelo CRC sing mainly in English, Tok Pisin and Kaina Ke. The congregation chairman of St. Paul’s Chapel in Kanga reported that many people there have written many songs in Biage. People in Pelai have adapted five songs from Mountain Koiali into Biage. People in Isurava said that there are people in a settlement in Port Moresby who have also been writing Biage songs, which they also occasionally sing. People in Kovelo occasionally use the songs that people in Kanga and Ebea have written. Women’s groups and youth services held in Isurava SDA, Pelai SDA, Kovelo CRC and St. Paul’s Anglican Chapel are all in Biage, when there are meetings. Only Pelai SDA reported using Biage during Sunday school. Isurava SDA reportedly uses predominantly English during Sunday school. St. Paul’s Anglican Chapel uses Tok Pisin in Sunday school which may be evidence of some language shift. Apart from Kokoda SDA and Holy Trinity Church since they have so many people from other language groups, the churches mainly use Biage for anything spoken, English for anything written, and the singing is mostly in English or Tok Pisin. St. Paul’s Anglican is the only church to write worship songs in Biage and use them extensively.

3.2.2 As observed