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University of Essex homepage Centres and Institutes Language Development throughout the Lifespan Our research Language Decline Attrition Ageing and Impairments
Research Cluster

Language in Later Life

Old hands resting on a wooden table with folded hands.

Exploring the range of the human language capacity

All forms of language development – including language learning and use in later life – are an expression of the human capacity for language.

For a long time, it was assumed that language should be studied in an idealised context – people in the prime of life who had learned and used only one language from birth. Any differences from this pattern, either because a person was exposed to multiple languages or because they were more advanced in age when they encountered a new language, were seen as ‘noise’.

It is only relatively recently that researchers have acknowledged the importance of looking at language learners and users of all ages, including in the ‘third age’. This is what we do in this research cluster.

Research Cluster Lead

Dr Karen Roehr-Brackin

Dr Karen Roehr-Brackin

Member

Department of Language and Linguistics, University of Essex

Our members

Dr Laurel Lawyer

Dr Laurel Lawyer

Member

Departmentof Language andLinguistics, University of Essex

Our research projects:

Language in Later Life

Auditory and Speech Perception Under Cognitive Load

This study examines how listening is affected when concurrent tasks are performed.

Language Learning Aptitude in Older Adults

This new study is a pilot project aimed at preparing the ground for a larger investigation into whether participation in a foreign language learning programme can contribute to building cognitive reserve in older adults, and which factors predict older adults’ foreign language learning success.

Speech Production Error Patterns in Language Acquisition and Language Loss

This ongoing project accounts for observed speech errors in language acquisition (children) and language loss (people with aphasia) with the notion of phonological complexity.

The Age Effect in Bilingual Development

This research project examines why bilingual children are better at language learning than adults.

Our affiliated courses
BA English Language and Linguistics
BA Linguistics
MA Applied Linguistics
MA Linguistic Studies
MA Linguistics
MA Psycholinguistics
MRes Linguistics
MRes Experimental Linguistics
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Contact us
Research Cluster Lead Professor Monika Schmidd
University of Essex
Centre for Research in Language Development throughout the Lifespan (LaDeLi) University of Essex
Wivenhoe Park, Colchester, CO4 3SQ
Telephone: 01206 872083
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  • Wivenhoe Park
  • Colchester CO4 3SQ

 

 

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