The Past as Resource

Abstract

In this exploratory study we introduce conversation analysis as a method for locating the significance of the life story or personal narrative in the everyday lives of the elderly. To illustrate our hypotheses, we draw upon a small sample of recordings of conversations between elderly dyads and compare them with comparable data collected among young adults. We suggest that among old people there is a broad recalling of the past in the context of the present which achieves for them a shared sense of meaning; this feature of talk is far less salient among young adults.