Book Review: Dementia and Language

Peter Muntigl, Charlotta Plejert, and Danielle Jones. 2024. Dementia and Language: The Lived Experience in Interaction. (Studies in Interactional Sociolinguistics) Cambridge: Cambridge University Press, 360 p. ISBN 978-11-083-3937-7, DOI https://www.doi.org/10.1017/9781108339377

Abstract

This article reviews the book "Dementia and Language: The Lived Experience in Interaction, edited by Peter Muntigl, Charlotta Plejert, & Danielle Jones (Cambridge University Press, 2024).
The reviewer considers that in an era where the population of people living with dementia is growing worldwide, its insights are especially pertinent, as they remind us that communication is a two-way street, and breakdowns are not solely due to the cognitive impairment of one party but are relational events that others can help to prevent or repair. The contributions show that even when one interlocutor's memory and linguistic abilities are compromised, the fundamental moral order of conversation---treating one another as knowledgeable, intentional, and worthy interactional partners---can and must be upheld. The lived experience of dementia, as portrayed here, is not just one of loss, but also of adaptation and resilience, much of which transpires through language and social interaction.
Showcasing a diversity of contexts from single cases to group settings and clinical encounters, the book provides robust analyses for scholars of discourse, backed by real data and thoughtful integration with theory. For clinicians and caregivers, it offers practical insights and reminders that how we speak with people with dementia matters profoundly.