Language and Age

Question 1

Gary Ives

Answer 1

West Yorkshire study: 100% young people thought people talk differently depending on age - also language becomes more standard with age

Question 2

Penelope Eckert 1998

Answer 2

Suggested defining age, chronological, social and biological age. Found not all 18-25 year olds shared the same language characteristics

Question 3

Penelope Eckert 2003

Answer 3

Slang used by teens to establish youth culture and identity. Rising intonation and multiple negation common, but not all teenagers speak alike

Question 4

Vivian de Klerk 2005

Answer 4

Young people seek to create identity and have the freedom to ‘challenge linguistic norms’ Want to look ‘modern’ and ‘cool’ as well as different and need to belong to a distinctive group. Not all
teenagers are alike

Question 5

Teenage Language

Answer 5

More creative with language so more likely to create neologisms
Manipulate lexis to converge for acceptance. They do this by using the sociolect of their peer group
Diverge from older generations by use of lexis
Often use language to create an identity
Pick up language far quicker than other ages

Question 6

Middle age language

Answer 6

Language said to be at its peak as standard form is used and grammar is correct
Speech becomes more standard after education and is used often to get ahead with jobs
More complex language is used
Language adapts to conform to social norm

Question 7

Old age language

Answer 7

Languages begins to decay
Standard form disappears
Abbreviation increases 
Linguistic creativity returns
Tend to use simple sentences