Zito argues that although meanings change with time, at the end of the 20th century we are witnessing not a change in meanings, but the demise of meaning itself. He presents evidence of the ever decreasing use of word language, upon which meaning is predicated, and the increase in iconographic impacts (Macintosh and television, for example); the routinization of ritual; the efforts to control information (as during the Gulf War); and the ideological competition among groups to dominate definitions of social situations by the use of oversimplified rhetorics. Zito pays particular attention to language, employing empirical data with classical and contemporary theoretical perspectives to argue that as the meanings of language change, the relations among persons change, and vice versa. Recommended for scholars of sociology and language.

The multidisciplinary nature of the field of aging and the sheer volume of published material make researching and keeping current with new developments in the field quite difficult. This reference book offers comprehensive strategies for accessing information on the psychological, social, biological, and medical aspects of aging. The types of information sources covered include: handbooks, directories, and encyclopedias; indexes and abstracts; agencies and other specialized sources; computerized information retrieval systems; and community resources. "Current Literature on Aging"

The intended audience for this work includes information specialists and professionals concerned with gerontology in all of its apsects--psychological, social, and medical. Persons trained in any of these disciplines will find the book readable. The use of examples from gerontological experience and literature is especially helpful. "Reference Books Bulletin"

The expansion of the world's older population is reflected in a tremendous increase in the literature on aging. Keeping abreast of developments in the field is made difficult not only by the sheer volume of publications but also by the multidisciplinary character of the subject. This new reference is the first to offer comprehensive strategies for retrieving gerontological research information in all the relevant disciplines. It itemizes information resources, including agencies, journals, and secondary sources, and outlines techniques for using library and computerized databases.

Following a brief introduction, the authors set forth step-by-step procedures for accessing gerontological materials and describe the range of available information resources in the social, biological, and medical sciences. Individual chapters are devoted to the use of handbooks, directories, and encyclopedias; indexes and abstracts, journals, and databases. An essential tool for information specialists, this reference will prove useful to students, academics, and professionals in any of the disciplines concerned with psychological, social, biological, or medical aspects of aging.