Language Use and Age

Age categories:
 Children (12 and below)
 Teens (13-19)
 Adults (20 and above)
 Seniors (60 and above)

● Adults are considered as the keepers of language (these are the main reason why
they are being strict about grammar and new slang)
● Teenagers are considered as the age group that pushes language change (they are
the pioneers to new words, slang and modern language/dynamic)
● This what triggers the tensions between language occur

How language is used to talk about Different age Group:

○ Vocabulary
○ Discourse
● Adults are more serious instead of teens in the sense of discourse
● For new learners, children are the best ones
● Teenagers are the driving force behind language change.
- They are experimenting with new words.
- They usually have slang
- They form new words
- They likely to use informal language
● Language used for seniors reflects what have happened to their brains as it ages

How to use Language for different Age Groups:

1. Children:
○ High pitch tone
○ Slow pace
○ Simple words or vocabularies.
○ Sometimes we use Baby talk (Weird words, mimic the baby’s voice)