Decline in the elderly's language: Evidence from cross-linguistic data

Abstract

Previous studies of deterioration of the elderly's language have been limited to different levels and skills. The aim of the present research was to determine whether a general language deterioration can be related to age. Cross-linguistic data from 840 subjects (60 for each of the 14 languages considered), tested by the Bilingual Aphasia Test in P aradis [1], were analysed at all linguistic levels (phonology, morphology, lexicon, syntax and semantics) and linguistic skills (comprehension, repetition, judgement, lexical access, propositionising, writing and reading). Age (range 50–91) and level of education were the independent variables in this study. The results provide evidence in support of the hypothesis that all linguistic levels (phonology, morphology, syntax, lexicon and semantics) deteriorate in the elderly even though only some linguistic skills (comprehension, repetition, lexical access and propositionising) are impaired. We suggest that an attentional deterioriation could affect the most complex levels of linguistic abilities in old people.