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This paper tries to demonstrate the changing facets of age-constructions and -identities in verbal interactions, and seeks to trace the (re-)productions of age as a culturally anchored conceptual category with fuzzy edges. The variability and flexibility of the concept of age will first be explained with the help of a semantic analysis of the lexemes' antonymy. Addressing age-related compliments, the second part expands on this by analyzing the different roles images of ageing play in interactive verbal routines. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

While the increase in average life expectancy of persons with lifelong disabilities is a universally recognized and well-established fact, little academic attention has been given to the associated challenges and opportunities. Even the respective gerontological debates tend to give little to no attention to the crucial issues revolving the ageing of persons with disabilities. Insights into the subjective logic of action -- and the influencing logic that creates disabled person's notion of age and ageing, as well as the awareness of life circumstances -- are the key to enabling self-determined ageing. The present paper uses this background to provide an insight into disabled person's process of ageing. The overall aim is to make an invisible target group and its interests visible that so far have been neglected in gerontological debates. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]