Language, Society and the Elderly: Discourse, Identity and Ageing (Language in Society, No. 18)

Coupland, Nikolas; Coupland, Justine; Giles, Howard

ISBN 10: 0631182799 / ISBN 13: 9780631182795

Published by Wiley-Blackwell, 1991

About this Item

Seller Inventory # U9780631182795

Bibliographic Details

• Title: Language, Society and the Elderly: Discourse, Identity and Ageing (Language in Society, No. 18)
• Publisher: Wiley-Blackwell
• Publication Date: 1991
• Language: English
• ISBN 10: 0631182799
• ISBN 13: 9780631182795
• Binding: Soft cover
• Edition: 1785421508.
• Condition: Very Good
• Dust Jacket Condition: 48145233
• Signed: 7/30/2026 2:25:08 PM
• Seller catalogs:
  • 1
  • U
  • 9780631182795

About this title

Synopsis

Language, Society and the Elderly is the first concerted attempt to give a social account of language and interaction in later life. The book gives a detailed critique of the cognitive bias of existing studies of elderly people's language. In its place, the authors propose a socially-based approach which explains how older people's life circumstances, concerns, goals and beliefs influence their styles of interaction. But social stereotypes of old age and a generally ageist social climate limit the roles available to elderly people. In detailed analyses of talk between elderly people and younger adults, the authors show how age and health identifies are negotiated. They look particularly at sequences of troubles-telling and moments of painful self-disclosure by elderly people, examining how even "supportive" talk to the elderly can threaten identity and reinforce social divisions. "Language, Society and the Elderly" opens up an entirely new field for sociolinguistics. It also shows how studies of language and interaction can contribute to theory in social gerontology, and to policy and practice in medical and caring contexts.

About the Author

NIKOLAS COUPLAND is Research Director of the Centre for Language and Communication Research at Cardiff University, and an elected fellow of the Academy of Social Sciences.  His current research is on style and performance in spoken discourse, the sociolinguistics of Wales and sociolinguistic theory.