American Dialect Society – Page 3 – An academic not-for-profit organization that encourages the study of any aspect of all languages and dialects used or found in North America (as well as associated islands in the Pacific and the Atlantic) and in the Caribbean Basin, and the languages that influence them: spoken, signed, or written, modern or historical, Indigenous or introduced, common or rare.

Words of the Year
Fodder for the 2011 Words of the Year Vote
January 4, 2012
To stoke the official words-of-the-year nomination process, below are several lists of words of the year to consider a day before the Society’s 22nd words of the year nomination meeting. The criteria for nominations. The official nominations will be determined…
Read more: Fodder for the 2011 Words of the Year Vote
News, Words of the Year
Schedule and Abstracts for 2012 Annual Meeting in Portland (Updated)
December 6, 2011
The abstracts, schedule, and lodging details for the 2012 American Dialect Society annual meeting, held in conjunction with with the Linguistic Society of America annual meeting in Portland January 5–7, are now available. Make your travel plans now to lock…
Read more: Schedule and Abstracts for 2012 Annual Meeting in Portland (Updated)
Words of the Year
What’s Your Word of the Year?
November 30, 2011
What is the word or phrase which best characterizes the year 2011? What expression most reflects the ideas, events, and themes which have occupied the English-speaking world, especially North America? Each year since 1990, the American Dialect Society has chosen…
Read more: What’s Your Word of the Year?

A subscription to American Speech, the society’s quarterly journal.
One book in the PADS (Publication of the American Dialect Society) monograph series each year.
Access to the American Speech online archive dating back to 1925.
The society’s annual conference, held in conjunction with the Linguistic Society of America.
The annual word-of-the-year vote.
Access to the society’s member list.
Access to the members-only ADS-M announcement email list.
Access to the ADS-L discussion email list (also open to non-members).
Being a part of an organization that supports the Dictionary of American Regional English.

Join here!

American Speech, the society’s quarterly journal.
PADS, Publication of the American Dialect Society, monograph series published once a year.
Members-only ADS-M announcement email list.
ADS-L email discussion list (also open to non-members).

Support the Society