This book explores the reality of ageing and old age from the perspectives of the individual and society. It emphasizes cross-cultural aspects of ageing and communication issues both within and across generations. The authors approach the understanding of ageing from a multi-disciplinary perspective, integrating biology, psychology, linguistics, sociology, and history. The book is organized as follows: historical and broader cross-cultural issues of ageing, followed by biomedical, psychological, social, and communicative aspects of ageing. The book concludes with an in-depth analysis of the existential dimension of ageing followed by an evolutionary perspective.

Cross-disciplinary, integrating knowledge from diverse fields Emphasizes biological, social, communicative and existential aspects of old age Draws from examples around the world encompassing diverse ethnicities studied both in the native country and in situations of immigration

Autorentext

Dr Marisa Cordella is Associate Professor in linguistics in the School of Languages and Cultures at the University of Queensland. She is an expert in discourse analysis in the areas of intercultural and doctor-patient communication, language studies, intergenerational and ageing studies. She is currently the Director of Research in the School of Languages and Cultures at the University of Queensland. She is the author of The Dynamic Consultation: A discourse analytical study of doctor-patient communication (Benjamins, The Netherlands, 2004), Behavioural Oncology: Psychological, communicative, and social dimensions (Springer, New York, 2014; with A. Poiani) and co-editor of the book Rethinking second language learning: using intergenerational community resources (Multilingual Matters, Bristol, United Kingdom, 2016; with Hui Huang). Dr Aldo Poiani is adjunct research associate at the School of Biological Sciences of Monash University. He is a professional biologist expert in behaviour and evolution, and has carried out research in social behaviour, immunology, endocrinology, and disease, adopting an evolutionary perspective. He is author of the books Behavioural Oncology: Psychological, communicative, and social dimensions (Springer, New York, 2014; with M. Cordella), Animal Homosexuality: A biosocial perspective (Cambridge University Press, Cambridge, 2010); and editor of the books Pragmatic Evolution: Applications of evolutionary theory (Cambridge University Press, Cambridge, 2012) and Floods in an Arid Continent (Academic Press, Amsterdam, 2006).

Inhalt
Chapter 1. Introduction.- Chapter 2. Old Ages in History.- Chapter 3. Old People Across Cultures.- Chapter 4. Ageing in Better Mental Heatlh.- Chapter 5. The Psychology of Older Ages.- Chapter 6. The Social Dimension of Older Ages.- Chapter 7. Language and Communication.- Chapter 8. Joureny Towards the End of Life.- Chapter 9. Agening in Evolutionary Perspective.- Chapter 10. Fullfilling Ageing.