Lunch & Learn: "But names can surely hurt you…" How ageist language impacts older people with COTA Qld

In this session, we explored the language of Ageism with the team from Council on the Ageing Queensland.

Ageist language can demean, discriminate and harm people of all ages. However, this is especially the case for older people given that ageism is a primary driver of abuse and mistreatment of older people.

Stephanie Power, Senior Policy and Research Officer from Council on the Ageing Queensland spoke from a systemic advocacy perspective about the frameworks of ageism and the implications of ageist language to the broader context of abuse and mistreatment of older people.

Stephanie was joined by Emeritus Professor Roland Sussex. Drawing on expertise in applied language studies, linguistics, and research on communication and pain, Professor Sussex unpacked the nuances of language and ageism. He provided an analysis of English words and expressions which, covertly and overtly, express ageist mindsets which harm both the hearer and the speaker, can lead to negative outcomes in real life, and form a network of pejorative values in contemporary Western society. This will be contrasted with interpretations of "old" in Asia which are, in contrast, positive and constructive.

Whether you have experienced ageism yourself, work with, or support older people, this webinar provides a unique insight into the implications of ageist language, and considers positive initiatives that address ageism and language.

Watch it now on our YouTube channel:

OUR SPEAKERS

Stephanie Power Senior Policy and Research Officer, COTA Queensland  

Stephanie Power is the Policy and Research Officer at Council on the Ageing Queensland and supports the Seniors Peak team with a focus on creating and sustaining age friendly communities. 

Roland (Roly) Sussex   Emeritus Professor, retired Professor of Applied Language Studies, The University of Queensland

Roland (Roly) Sussex “retired” from being Professor of Applied Language Studies at The University of Queensland in 2010. Since then, he has been conducting research, especially on pain, communication and intercultural communication, supervising research students, and broadcasting and writing on language, especially since 1997 with ABC radio in Brisbane.