Spoken language decline: Daily word counts down 30% since 2005

A new study published in Perspectives on Psychological Science reveals a significant decline in daily spoken language. Researchers Valeria Pfeifer (University of Missouri-Kansas City) and Matthias Mehl (University of Arizona) found that the average person speaks approximately 338 fewer words per day each year since 2005. This represents a nearly 30% drop in spoken words over a 14-year period, falling from an average of roughly 16,000 words in 2005 to approximately 12,700 in 2019.

The study, which analyzed data from 22 studies involving approximately 2,200 participants across the US, Mexico, Australia, and Europe, noted that the decline is most pronounced among individuals under the age of 25.

Researchers attribute this trend to the rise of the "convenience economy" and increased digital interaction. Technologies such as self-checkouts, GPS, touchscreen kiosks, delivery apps, and text-based communication reduce the necessity for face-to-face verbal interaction. Experts warn that this shift could have cognitive, social, and emotional implications, potentially contributing to a "loneliness epidemic" and weaker social bonds.