Theravāda buddhism has only reciting, we don't have prayer.

Theravāda buddhism has only reciting, we don't have prayer. Reciting is like when you want to speak thai language, you have to recite thai vocabulary and thai grammar to memorize it for using it in every where and every time you want to speak in thai.

So, when you want to practice follow the buddha, you have to memorize the buddha's teaching, first.

Also, there are many types of reciting in buddhism, which depending on situation, such as:

1. Reciting for meditation of the practitioner, such as in Sutta. Aṅ. (5): dasakanipātā Dutiyanalakapānasuttaṃ.
2. Reciting for keep tipitaka going on of the tipitaka-memorizer, such as in 1st saṅgāyanā.
3. Reciting in thai tradition, which follow to the virtual chapter of the path of purification.