Download Language and Age and more Lecture notes Cognitive Development in PDF only on Docsity!
Language and Age Language and Age
22
Identity and Language Variation Identity and Language Variation
Language variation allows us asLanguage variation allows us as
speakers to locate ourselves in aspeakers to locate ourselves in a
multimulti--dimensional society.dimensional society.
As hearers, language variation allowsAs hearers, language variation allows
us to locate others in that society.us to locate others in that society.
^ Age (social not chronological) is oneAge (social not chronological) is one
of the dimensions on which weof the dimensions on which we
construct identities for ourselves andconstruct identities for ourselves and
others.others.
33
Write down terms you use for Write down terms you use for
people at these different life stages.people at these different life stages.
0 0 –– 10 years10 years 11 11 –– 20 years20 years 21 21 –– 30 years30 years 31 31 –– 40 years40 years 41 41 –– 50 years50 years 51 51 –– 60 years60 years 61 61 –– 70 years70 years 71 years and over71 years and over
Which age is unmarked?Which age is unmarked?
44
Language and AgeLanguage and Age
Consider three life stages and howConsider three life stages and how
people construct an age identity forpeople construct an age identity for
themselves and others at thosethemselves and others at those
stages.stages.
- • Young childrenYoung children
- • The teenage yearsThe teenage years
- • The elderlyThe elderly
Young Children’ Young Children’s Talks Talk
And What Adults Say to And What Adults Say to
Young ChildrenYoung Children
66
Young Children TalkingYoung Children Talking
^ 3 months3 months
^ 6 months6 months
(^) 9 months9 months
12 months12 months
(^) 18 months18 months
(^) 24 months24 months
(^) 36 months36 months
1010
What Adults Say to Young ChildrenWhat Adults Say to Young Children
Mother Hello.Hello. Give me a smile then.Give me a smile then. (( gently pokes infant ingently pokes infant in ribsribs )) Sleepy, are you? You wokeSleepy, are you? You woke up too early today.up too early today.
(( touches infant’touches infant’s hands hand ) What) What are you looking at. Canare you looking at. Canyou see something?you see something?
Oh, that’Oh, that’s what you wanted.s what you wanted. Come on, give us a smile.Come on, give us a smile.In a friendly mood then?In a friendly mood then?
Infant
(( yawnsyawns ))
(( opens fistopens fist ))
(( grasps mothergrasps mother’’s fingers finger ))
1111
What Adults Say to Young ChildrenWhat Adults Say to Young Children
Brenda Brenda fãefãe fãefãe ãeãe fanfanĩĩ fa faĩĩ khukhu
MotherMother
Hm?Hm? Bathroom?Bathroom?
Fan!Fan! Yeah.Yeah. Cool, yeah.Cool, yeah. FanFan makes you cool.makes you cool.
1212
What Adults Say to Young ChildrenWhat Adults Say to Young Children
ChildChild Dere rabbit.Dere rabbit.
AdultAdult The rabbit likesThe rabbit likes eating lettuce.eating lettuce. Do you want toDo you want to give him some?give him some?
Expanding the child’Expanding the child’s utterances utterance
1313
What Adults Say to Young ChildrenWhat Adults Say to Young Children
ChildChild Lookit (pointing)Lookit (pointing) Fly.Fly. Eat.Eat. Flower.Flower.
OhOh--oh go.oh go.
AdultAdult Uh-Uh-huh, ithuh, it’’s a fly.s a fly. What about the fly?What about the fly? What’What’s he eating?s he eating? Mmhmm, he’Mmhmm, he’ss eating. Oheating. Oh--oh,oh, there he goes.there he goes.
Expanding the child’Expanding the child’s utterances utterance
1414
What Adults Say to Young ChildrenWhat Adults Say to Young Children
Making correctionsMaking corrections ChildChild:: (( pointspoints ) Doggie.) Doggie. AdultAdult::^ No that’No that’s a HORSIE.s a HORSIE.
ChildChild:: That’That’s the animal farmhouse.s the animal farmhouse. AdultAdult::^ No that’No that’s the LIGHTHOUSE.s the LIGHTHOUSE.
ChildChild:: (( points to a picture of a bird on apoints to a picture of a bird on a nestnest ) Bird house.) Bird house. AdultAdult:: Yes, the bird’Yes, the bird’s sitting on a NEST.s sitting on a NEST.
The Teenage YearsThe Teenage Years
1919
“Like “Like””
2020
TheThe I.M.sI.M.s of Romeo and Julietof Romeo and Juliet
^ JulietJuliet:: romeoromeo u thereu there RomeoRomeo:: yoyo wassupwassup JulietJuliet:: nothinnothin, u?, u? RomeoRomeo: school sucked 2day: school sucked 2day ^ JulietJuliet: heard: heard wylanderwylander got mad at ugot mad at u RomeoRomeo: what a jerk I: what a jerk I useddusedd purple ink on thepurple ink on the scisci test, he g5ot pissed he looks liketest, he g5ot pissed he looks like jimminyjimminy cricketcricket JulietJuliet:: lollol RomeoRomeo: going to nicks party: going to nicks party (^) JulietJuliet: cant: cant imim groundedgrounded
2121
TheThe I.M.sI.M.s of Romeo and Julietof Romeo and Juliet
RomeoRomeo: y: y JulietJuliet:: cardozacardoza called home,called home, sezsez imim failigfailig spanishspanish btw both my rents hate mebtw both my rents hate me RomeoRomeo: mine hate u 2: mine hate u 2 (^) JulietJuliet: my dads coming: my dads coming gtggtg ^ RomeoRomeo: k bye: k bye JulietJuliet:: xoxoxoxoxoxo bye see ubye see u tmwtmw (^) RomeoRomeo:: xoxoxoxoxoxoxoxoxoxo byebye JulietJuliet:: xoxoxoxoxoxxxoooxxxgtgxoxoxoxoxoxxxoooxxxgtg RomeoRomeo: k: k
2222
I.M. MeI.M. Me
LetLet’Same placeSame place’s meet at the same times meet at the same time Send your jpeg, ISend your jpeg, I wannafaceface wanna see yoursee your Girlfriend, send an I.M.Girlfriend, send an I.M. TTYLTTYLNo time to spellNo time to spell Oops, there goes that little bellOops, there goes that little bellBye, bye for nowBye, bye for now BBFNBBFN Hey, LOL, G2GHey, LOL, G2GII gottagotta go, but baby watch for mego, but baby watch for me
II’’ll be right back, BRBll be right back, BRB’’causecause So sign on, and I.M. meSo sign on, and I.M. me
ElderspeakElderspeak
2424
2828
Answers to the Aging Quiz Answers to the Aging Quiz
1.1. (^) The majority of older adults will become senileThe majority of older adults will become senile (defective memory, disoriented, demented)(defective memory, disoriented, demented) during old age.during old age. Answer: FalseAnswer: False 2.2. Most older adults have no desire or capacity forMost older adults have no desire or capacity for sexual relations. In other words, most oldersexual relations. In other words, most older adults are asexual.adults are asexual. ^ Answer: FalseAnswer: False 3.3. Chronological age is the most importantChronological age is the most important determinant of age.determinant of age. Answer: FalseAnswer: False 4.4.^ Most older adults have difficulty adapting toMost older adults have difficulty adapting to change; they are set in their ways.change; they are set in their ways. Answer: FalseAnswer: False
2929
Answers to the Aging Quiz Answers to the Aging Quiz
5.5.^ Physical handicaps are the primary factorsPhysical handicaps are the primary factors limiting the activities of older adults.limiting the activities of older adults. Answer: FalseAnswer: False 6.6. Declines in all five senses normally occur in oldDeclines in all five senses normally occur in old age.age. Answer: Mostly TrueAnswer: Mostly True 7.7. Older adults are incapable of learning newOlder adults are incapable of learning new information; you can't teach an old dog newinformation; you can't teach an old dog new tricks.tricks. ^ Answer: FalseAnswer: False 8.8. Physical strength tends to decline in old age.Physical strength tends to decline in old age. Answer: TrueAnswer: True
3030
Answers to the Aging Quiz Answers to the Aging Quiz
9.9. Intelligence declines with old age.Intelligence declines with old age. Answer: Mostly FalseAnswer: Mostly False 10.10.^ The majority of older adults say that they areThe majority of older adults say that they are happy most of the time.happy most of the time. Answer: TrueAnswer: True 11.11. (^) The vast majority of older adults will at someThe vast majority of older adults will at some point end up in a nursing home.point end up in a nursing home. Answer: FalseAnswer: False 12.12. About 80% of older people say they are healthyAbout 80% of older people say they are healthy enough to carry out their normal daily activitiesenough to carry out their normal daily activities independently.independently. ^ Answer: TrueAnswer: True
3131
Answers to the Aging Quiz Answers to the Aging Quiz
13.13. Most older adults are rejected by their children.Most older adults are rejected by their children. Answer: FalseAnswer: False 14.14. In general, most older adults tend to be prettyIn general, most older adults tend to be pretty much alike.much alike. (^) Answer: FalseAnswer: False 15.15. The majority of older adults say that they areThe majority of older adults say that they are lonely.lonely. Answer: FalseAnswer: False 16.16.^ Old age can be best characterized as a secondOld age can be best characterized as a second childhood.childhood. Answer: FalseAnswer: False
3232
Answers to the Aging Quiz Answers to the Aging Quiz
17.17.^ Over 12% of the population of the UnitedOver 12% of the population of the United States is over the age of 65.States is over the age of 65. Answer: TrueAnswer: True 18.18. Most older adults tend to be preoccupied withMost older adults tend to be preoccupied with death.death. Answer: FalseAnswer: False 19.19. Most older adults have incomes well below theMost older adults have incomes well below the poverty level.poverty level. ^ Answer: FalseAnswer: False 20.20. Older people tend to become more religious asOlder people tend to become more religious as they age; as they deal with their own mortality.they age; as they deal with their own mortality. Answer: FalseAnswer: False
3333
Answers to the Aging Quiz Answers to the Aging Quiz
21.21. Retirement is detrimental to an individual'sRetirement is detrimental to an individual's health; six months ago he retired and now he'shealth; six months ago he retired and now he's dead, retirement killed him.dead, retirement killed him. Answer: FalseAnswer: False 22.22. (^) Pain is a natural part of the aging process.Pain is a natural part of the aging process. Answer: FalseAnswer: False 23.23. The majority of older adults say that they feelThe majority of older adults say that they feel irritated or angry most of the time.irritated or angry most of the time. Answer: FalseAnswer: False 24.24. Rarely does someone over the age of 65Rarely does someone over the age of 65 produce a great work of art, science, orproduce a great work of art, science, or scholarship.scholarship. Answer: FalseAnswer: False 25.25. (^) With age comes wisdom.With age comes wisdom. Answer: Mostly FalseAnswer: Mostly False
3737
Is Elderspeak Harmful?Is Elderspeak Harmful?
Elderspeak implies that an older person is notElderspeak implies that an older person is not competent.competent. Miscommunication is occurring and itMiscommunication is occurring and it is his/her fault.is his/her fault. There is a bizarre discrepancyThere is a bizarre discrepancy between a flawless performance by seniors andbetween a flawless performance by seniors and their reports of confusion.their reports of confusion. Over and over again,Over and over again, older adults successfully find the location on aolder adults successfully find the location on a map as instructed, but at the same time, theymap as instructed, but at the same time, they report concerns that they misunderstood theirreport concerns that they misunderstood their younger partners in the test.younger partners in the test. Elderspeak affectsElderspeak affects an older person's evaluation of his or heran older person's evaluation of his or her abilities.abilities. It may reinforce negative stereotypesIt may reinforce negative stereotypes about aging and erode older adults' selfabout aging and erode older adults' self--esteem.esteem.
3838
What is Helpful? What is Helpful?
(^) Seniors will have better comprehension ifSeniors will have better comprehension if youyou ……
- • Repeat and paraphrase what you are saying.Repeat and paraphrase what you are saying.
- • SimplifySimplify –– but remember to be explicit.but remember to be explicit. For example, instead of saying:For example, instead of saying: ““The lunch,The lunch, which was served late yesterday, made mywhich was served late yesterday, made my stomach upset and I had to miss the class thatstomach upset and I had to miss the class that I enjoy so much.I enjoy so much.”” Try saying it this way:Try saying it this way: ““Lunch was served late yesterday. My stomachLunch was served late yesterday. My stomach was upset so I had to miss my class. I reallywas upset so I had to miss my class. I really enjoy that class.enjoy that class.””
3939
What is Helpful? What is Helpful?
^ Seniors will have better comprehension ifSeniors will have better comprehension if you:you:
- • Repeat and paraphraseRepeat and paraphrase
- • Make explicit simplificationsMake explicit simplifications
These two kinds of accommodations areThese two kinds of accommodations are very different from the singsong form ofvery different from the singsong form of elderspeak we hear most often in nursingelderspeak we hear most often in nursing homes.homes.
4040
Learning ActivityLearning Activity
Make a collection of current slangMake a collection of current slang
words used by children andwords used by children and
teenagers. Ask people of differentteenagers. Ask people of different
ages to give you definitions for thoseages to give you definitions for those
words. Why do people of differentwords. Why do people of different
age groups have differentage groups have different
perceptions of what words mean andperceptions of what words mean and
how they are used?how they are used?
