Linear and Nonlinear Age Trajectories of Language Use: A Laboratory Observation Study of Couples’ Conflict Conversations

Minxia Luo, Mona Neysari, Gerold Schneider, Mike Martin, Burcu Demiray and Angela Gutchess

The Journals of Gerontology: Series B, 2020, vol. 75, issue 9, e206-e214

Abstract: ObjectivesThis study investigated linear and nonlinear age effects on language use with speech samples that were representative of naturally occurring conversations.MethodUsing a corpus-based approach, we examined couples’ conflict conversations in the laboratory. The conversations, from a total of 364 community-dwelling German-speaking heterosexual couples (aged 19–82), were videotaped and transcribed. We examined usage of lower-frequency words, grammatical complexity, and utterance of filled pauses (e.g., äh [“um”]).ResultsMultilevel models showed that age effects on the usage of lower-frequency words were nonsignificant. Grammatical complexity increased until middle age (i.e., 54) and then declined. The utterance of filled pauses increased until old age (i.e., 70) and then decreased.DiscussionResults are discussed in relation to cognitive aging research.

Keywords: Adult life span; Cognitive aging; Filled pauses; Frequency of nouns; Grammatical complexity (search for similar items in EconPapers)
Date: 2020
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The Journals of Gerontology: Series B is currently edited by Psychological Sciences - S. Duke Han, PhD and Social Sciences - Jessica A Kelley, PhD, FGSA

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