- Urgent message about potential changes to the 2011 Annual Meeting. Read more ...
- Nominations for the LSA's new Early Career Award are due at the Secretariat by September 15th.
- Did you know that Classic Monographs of the LSA are available through the Society for a fraction of their cost elsewhere? Read more …
Who We Are
The Linguistic Society of America is the major professional society in the United States that is exclusively dedicated to the advancement of the scientific study of language. As such, the LSA plays a critical role in supporting and disseminating linguistic scholarship, as well as facilitating the application of current research to scientific, educational, and social issues concerning language.
Language is a defining characteristic of the human species and impacts virtually all aspects of human experience. For this reason linguists seek not only to discover properties of language in general and of languages in particular but also strive to understand the interface of the phenomenon of language with culture, cognition, history, literature, and so forth. With over 5,000 members, the LSA speaks on behalf of the field of linguistics and also serves as an advocate for sound educational and political policies that affect not only professionals and students of language, but virtually all segments of society. Founded in 1924, the LSA has on many occasions made the case to governments, universities, foundations, and the public to support linguistic research and to see that our scientific discoveries are effectively applied. As part of its outreach activities, the LSA attempts to provide information and educate both officials and the public about language. The Society serves as a linguistic watchdog on press reports and city, state, and federal policies that concern language and languages in the U.S. In this connection, the LSA has issued statements and resolutions on matters such as language rights, the English-only movement, bilingual education, and Ebonics. The Society has been a strong proponent of the documentation and revitalization of endangered languages both within the US and abroad. With more members, the LSA can speak with an even stronger voice. Whether you are a linguist or are interested in language for other reasons, an LSA membership is an investment in the scientific study of language.
