A thesis submitted in partial fulfilment of the requirements for the award of the degree "Licence en Langue et Littérature Anglaises"

Résumé

In the framework of my Thesis called "A Pragmatic Analysis of some Cmforting Expressions Usedin some Protestant Churches in Bujumbura Cty" my purpose was to find out the appropriateness and effectiveness of comforting expressions used in protestant church services and thein to investigate on the influence of church services on church members' actons taking and decisions making in life. My study was conducted on pragmatics as field of linguistics, in the Religous context and specifically on the comforting expressions used in that context.

The study was carried out in 7 church denominatons of Bujumbura city. In all, 207 church members were given copies of the questionnaire and 158 copies were given back. 55 comforting expressions were collected and then analyzed. The data analysis revealed that protestants grow more and more optimistic thanks to comforting expressions, and that church services are influential on their actions taking and on their decisions making as well. 100% of my respondents agree that they are optimistic towards the future and 91% of them confirm that they find hope n the church. While 100% of protestants preachers say there are people who change their bad decisions
due o church services, 98% of their member followers agree that church services are influential on their decisions making and actions taking.

In view of this situation, i have found out that people are facing different problems which sometimes prevent them from dreaming high and planning to do big things. I have eventually drawn a conclusion that people need to be much more comforted in order to face courageously life difficulties. I have then appealed to the government, yes to control, but also to facilitate religious communities' implantation because they conribute to the socio-economic welfare of the people and I have also suggested to the radio and Television stations, to increase the religious magazines in order to help them face courageously the realities of life.