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Topic and vocabulary use patterns of elderly men and women of two age cohorts
Abstract
The general purpose of this project was to collect language samples from every day conversations of elderly men and women and to analyze these samples in terms of the words and topics used by normally functioning elderly men and women. The men and women (n = 20) who participated in the study were from two age cohorts (Younger Age: 60-74 yrs.; Older Age: 78-85 yrs.). Topics were analyzed according to established discourse analysis procedures, using a jury to review data and develop categories. Analysis for frequency and commonality of word use was completed using computer software to determine for each cohort, the list of different words which occurred with a frequency of.5 per 1000 words, to develop a composite list of these words and statistically assess if the frequency of use was significantly different or if a correlational relationship existed between its use by men and women. The results of the topic analysis indicate there is a trend toward differences between Older Age cohorts and Younger Age Cohorts and between Men and Women in their frequency of referencing, especially for particular categories e.g., Present vs. Past; Family vs. Friends, Household Routines vs. Facts/Network. The greatest differences appear to be between the Younger Women Cohort and the Older Men Cohort. There is no significant difference in the frequency of use for the composite 250 most frequently occurring words and a significant relationship exists for the use of Men and Women for word sets 25, 100, and 150. More unique words were used by Older Cohorts than Younger Cohorts, and by Men than Women with the Older Cohort Men using the most unique words.
Subject Area
Speech therapy|Gerontology|Families & family life|Personal relationships|Sociology
Recommended Citation
Stuart, Sheela L, "Topic and vocabulary use patterns of elderly men and women of two age cohorts" (1991). ETD collection for University of Nebraska-Lincoln. AAI9208116.
https://digitalcommons.unl.edu/dissertations/AAI9208116