Article published In: Pragmatics of Active Social Inclusion
Edited by Yoshiko Matsumoto and Heidi E. Hamilton
[Pragmatics and Society 15:1] 2024
► pp. 33–48
“That was a long time ago”
Memory work spanning the arc from normal healthy aging to cognitive impairment
Published online: 22 January 2024
https://doi.org/10.1075/ps.23054.ban
https://doi.org/10.1075/ps.23054.ban
Abstract
The paper contributes to ongoing research on memory work with a focus on “memory work markers” (mwm), affirmative and negative constructions with first person singular verbs such as ‘I remember’ and ‘I know’. We observe them in a longitudinal approach, based on a hexagonal French corpus of biographical interviews, and compare speakers with Alzheimer’s dementia (AD) and cognitive impairment (CI) with matched speakers in normal aging. We observe a general tendency to use negative mwm more frequently in normal aging, while the speaker with AD uses positive as well as negative mwm for memory work performance, and the speaker with CI as tools for topic self-selection. We conclude that framing the process of remembering with mwm can preserve speakers’ autonomy and that an inclusive conversation style could be enhanced by the nuanced awareness of mwm and their relevance in interaction.
Keywords: aging, dementia, memory work, longitudinal, lifespan pragmatics
Article outline
- 1.Introduction
- 2.A longitudinal, corpus-based approach to memory work
- 3.Linguistic strategies of memory work
- 3.1mwm in the role of discourse markers (DM)
- 3.2mwm as lexical elements
- 4.Analysis
- 4.1Annotation
- 4.2Use of mwm: frequencies and affirmative vs. negative forms
- 4.3Use of mwm: ad and ci
- 4.3.1Ms Moreau and her memory work performance
- 4.3.2Ms Morel’s memory work for topic self-selection
- 5.Conclusion and perspectives
- Acknowledgements
References
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