GERONTOLINGUISTICS IN THE SYSTEM OF MODERN SCIENTIFIC KNOWLEDGE: RESEARCH DIRECTIONS AND PRACTICAL PERSPECTIVES

Abstract

The article substantiates the relevance of studying the linguistic mediation of the aging phenomenon for creating an accessible communicative environment that promotes active longevity. The key research directions in gerontolinguistics are systematized: the description of speech behavior in physiological and pathological aging (naming difficulties, narrowing of the thematic repertoire, decline of pragmatic competences); the development of linguistic rehabilitation strategies (gerontologopedics); the transformation of the communicative space through text simplification (easy/plain language) and consideration of the cognitive limitations of elderly recipients; and the socio-critical analysis of the representation of aging in language (the problem of ageism and gerontostereotypes). Particular attention is paid to the heterogeneity of the older age group: three aging phenotypes are identified – natural (physiological), accelerated, and “successful” aging. The researchers conclude by outlining promising directions for linguistic research in geriatric practice: diagnostic (early markers of neurodegenerative diseases), rehabilitative (restoration of speech function), communicative-adaptive (rules of adaptive communication in healthcare), and socio-constructivist (shaping a positive image of aging).