Research on Silver Age Language from the Perspective of “Actively Responding to Population Aging” Strategy: Approach and Prospect

Abstract

Proactively advancing gerontological linguistics research constitutes a vital component of China’s population aging strategy and serves as a strategic initiative to empower the silver economy. This paper examines the developmental trajectory of gerontological linguistics in China, analyzing advancements in research subjects, perspectives, methodologies, and academic communities. The analysis reveals that domestic studies have achieved notable progress in foundational research, providing academic support for elderly care initiatives. However, given the relatively late start of gerontological linguistics in China, challenges persist in research scope, depth, relevance, methodology, and team development. With accelerating aging trends and emerging linguistic diversity demands among seniors, gerontological linguistics demonstrates immense potential and promising prospects. Future efforts should focus on deepening systematic research, emphasizing empirical exploration, addressing new linguistic challenges in the digital age, meeting diverse linguistic needs, and strengthening research teams. These initiatives will further advance the field, unleash its innovative productivity, and maximize its role as a linguistic catalyst in achieving national aging strategies, ultimately contributing to the creation of an age-friendly society.