The Linguistic Society of America was founded in 1924 for the advancement of the scientific study of language. The Society serves its nearly 7,000 personal and institutional members through scholarly meetings, publications, and special activities designed to advance the discipline. An interest in linguistics is the only requirement for membership. The Society is an affiliate of the Permanent International Committee of Linguists (CIPL), a constituent society of the American Council of Learned Societies (ACLS ), and a member of the Consortium of Social Science Associations (COSSA) and the American Association for the Advancement of Science (AAAS).

Membership includes the quarterly journal Language (March, June, September, December), the Society’s newsletter, the LSA Bulletin, and the privilege of submitting papers for the Annual Meeting (held every year in early January and attended by nearly 1200 linguistics professionals, students and enthusiasts from academia, government, industry and the public) and to the journal Language. In addition, a number of members-only benefits are available through the LSA website.

The Society also publishes an electronic Directory of Programs in Linguistics in the United States and Canada. Among its special educational activities are the Linguistic Institutes held during the summer in odd-numbered years and co-sponsored by a host university. Inaugurated in 1928, these Institutes provide intensive training in applied and theoretical linguistics on the graduate and undergraduate level. Fellowships for students are available; visiting scholars are welcome.