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

J Gerontol B Psychol Sci Soc Sci. 2020 Oct 16;75(9):e206-e214. doi: 10.1093/geronb/gbaa041.

Abstract

Objectives: This study investigated linear and nonlinear age effects on language use with speech samples that were representative of naturally occurring conversations.

Method: Using 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"]).

Results: Multilevel 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.

Discussion: Results are discussed in relation to cognitive aging research.

Keywords: Adult life span; Cognitive aging; Filled pauses; Frequency of nouns; Grammatical complexity.

Publication types

  • Observational Study
  • Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't

MeSH terms

  • Adult
  • Age Factors
  • Aged
  • Aging* / physiology
  • Aging* / psychology
  • Family Conflict / psychology
  • Female
  • Humans
  • Language Tests
  • Language*
  • Male
  • Middle Aged
  • Psycholinguistics / methods*
  • Research Design
  • Speech*
  • Verbal Behavior