According to one interpretation, the reason that Nenbutsu Kyogen was made into a silent form of dramatic art was because it had originally been performed before a large gathering of people who were to chant the Nenbutsu, so that even if the plays did include dialog it might become drowned out by the chanting.
念仏狂言が無言劇化した理由については、本来、大衆が念仏をする前で行なわれたものであったために、台詞を発しても念仏の声にかき消されて伝わらないので無言になったとする説もある。