American Dialect Society
The American Dialect Society (ADS), founded in 1889, is a learned society "dedicated to the study of the English language in North America, and of other languages, or dialects of other languages, influencing it or influenced by it." The Society publishes the academic journal American Speech.
Organization logo | |
| Formation | March 13, 1889 |
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| Type | Not for profit |
| Purpose | "Study of the English language in North America, together with other languages or dialects of other languages influencing it or influenced by it." |
| Location |
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Region served | North America |
Membership | 550 |
Official language | English |
President | Luanne Vonne Schneidemesser |
Vice President for Communications and Technology | Grant Barrett |
Executive Secretary | Allan Metcalf |
Parent organization | American Council of Learned Societies (admitted 1962) |
| Website | http://www.americandialect.org/ |
Since its foundation, dialectologists in English-speaking North America have affiliated themselves with the American Dialect Society, an association which in its first constitution defined its objective as "the investigation of the spoken English of the United States and Canada" (Constitution, 1890). Over the years, its objective has remained essentially the same, only expanded to encompass "the English language in North America, together with other languages or dialects of other languages influencing it or influenced by it" (Fundamentals, 1991).