The Politicization of Linguistic Representations of Age: On the Argumentative Relevance of Age in (Municipal) Political Citizen Participation Formats

This article presents the results of a linguistic study designed to investigate how and for what purpose age is systematically made relevant in (municipal) political communication formats, older age is politicized, and how representations of age are popularized. On the basis of three recorded video excerpts of political speeches and statements, it is shown to what extent age references or representations are negotiated by the participants to achieve certain communicative goals. Among other things, deficits with regard to a lack of consideration of vulnerable groups are denounced by political agents alike. This kind of portrayal has the potential to be face-threatening for the mayors and city administrations involved. In this article, however, it is not about communication in old age, but about communication and popularization of old age in political speeches and statements.