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

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.