THE LANGUAGE OF AGE IN PROVERBS: ASSESSING THE CONTRIBUTION OF TRADITIONAL SAYINGS TO AGEISM

Abstract

The article investigates how ageism is reflected in modern English-language proverbs and the instances in which such expressions can lead to the maintenance and normalization of age-based stereotypes in social discourse. Proverbs represent linguistic units that show cultural values and social beliefs inherited from previous generations. The primary aim of this study is to examine 90 English age-related proverbs in order to detect both direct and indirect ageist narratives and evaluate their contribution to public perceptions of ageing.

         The findings suggest that the majority of these proverbs conduce to the normalization of age-based stereotypes either directly or implicitly. However, a small percentage of the proverbs reflects both neutral and anti-ageist tones. This study emphasizes the persistent influence of proverbial language in molding public views about aging and reinforces the need for further lexical analysis of historical sources to map the evolution of ageist motifs throughout different eras.

The scientific value of the study is based not only on the structured analysis of linguistic ageism by means of concrete examples but also on its language-oriented interpretation of how proverbs shape and support public perceptions of age.  

The practical significance is manifested through the potential use of the results in education, media, language policy, and social discourse, aiding in the promotion of more inclusive and age-fair communication strategies. This research also provides the basis for further linguistic and sociolinguistic investigations on age-related verbal behaviour.