Research That Matters (January 17 - 20, 2008)

PURPOSE: Most linguistic studies on family interaction address adults and young children. However, family networks are maintained over the life course. We focus on the communicative styles between older persons (85 and older) and their family members. This project builds on previous findings of the older persons of the same age group with infrequent interaction with family members demonstrated relatively better linguistic skills than older persons with limited interaction with family members (Keller-Cohen, 2006). Telephone conversations counter geographical distance for persons in an older persons' network. As observational approaches may enlighten how the changes experienced by older persons may be understood, and effect their social relations, studies of telephone conversations contribute to this methodological concern. Our study emphasizes the unfolding of speech, negotiated at every turn yet echoed in styles of speech developed over a lifetime. METHOD: Research was conducted at three Senior congregate housing facilities in Southeast Michigan. Participants were initially recruited because of previous research involvement (Keller-Cohen, 2006). Older persons and their family members agreed to have their telephone conversations tape-recorded for a five-day period. Twenty-one conversations of two family networks were transcribed and analyzed. Data collection methods also included administering of the MMSE, telephone logs and ethnographic field notes. FINDINGS: Focusing on styles of speaking on the telephone, the micro-analysis of transcripts of two family networks reveal symmetric and asymmetric co-participation strategies (Capps and Ochs, 1995). The transcripts reveal that a style of speaking is known and practiced by all family members. This analysis of words spoken, average utterance length and topic management substantiates previous research asserting variation within linguistic practices (Johnstone, 2000, Rampton, 1999). The conversational data also reveal lack of conflict between family members and present-oriented discourse. This lack of emphasis on reminiscing contradicts established developmental theories on the goals and activities of older persons (Erikson, 1950; Carstensen, 1991). IMPLICATIONS: The role of social workers to advocate on behalf of clients and to facilitate participation of interested parties can be enhanced by this research. Social workers should be aware of the heterogeneity of speaking styles practiced within families and that a family's speaking style may be maintained by persons living in various geographical locations. The heterogeneity of styles of speaking may be a way to strategically distinguish one's network from another and affirm group membership (Eckert, 2001, Irvine 2001). Social workers must learn quickly to recognize these styles and perhaps strategize their own discursive practices to intersect with such styles. Some family styles can be symmetrically balanced where the older person's voice is invited and affirmed, while other family styles can be asymmetrically organized where the older person's voice is diminished. For the latter, social workers may have to strategize ways to make sure the older person's voice is “there”, while respecting lifelong family patterns of speaking. Additionally, telephone research, as an observational method, may inform what it means to age in a modern era. Social workers must also accommodate their practices to such technological changes, especially when social networks transcend place.