Dictionary Society of North America

Dictionary Society of North America is a professional organization dedicated to the study of lexicography, linguistics, and language in general, with a focus on the United States, Canada, and Mexico. The society was founded in 1975 by a group of scholars, including Noah Webster's biographer, Joshua Kendall, and Erin McKean, a prominent lexicographer who has worked on Merriam-Webster dictionaries. The DSNA is affiliated with the International Council of Onomastic Sciences and has connections to other organizations, such as the American Dialect Society and the Linguistic Society of America. The society's activities are also influenced by the work of notable linguists, including William Labov, John McWhorter, and Deborah Tannen.

● History

The Dictionary Society of North America has its roots in the early 20th century, when American English was becoming increasingly prominent, and scholars like H.L. Mencken and George Philip Krapp were studying its development. The society's founding in 1975 was also influenced by the work of James Murray, the editor of the Oxford English Dictionary, and Fowler, the author of A Dictionary of Modern English Usage. Over the years, the DSNA has been shaped by the contributions of many notable scholars, including John Simpson, the former chief editor of the Oxford English Dictionary, and Jesse Sheidlower, the editor of the Oxford English Dictionary's American English section. The society has also been influenced by the work of other organizations, such as the American Philological Society and the Modern Language Association.

● Membership

The Dictionary Society of North America has a diverse membership, including lexicographers, linguists, language teachers, and language enthusiasts from across North America and around the world. Members include scholars from institutions like Harvard University, Stanford University, and the University of Toronto, as well as professionals from organizations like Merriam-Webster, Oxford University Press, and the Cambridge University Press. The society also has connections to other organizations, such as the American Name Society and the Society for the Study of the Indigenous Languages of the Americas. Notable members include Katherine Barber, the former editor of the Canadian Oxford Dictionary, and Ben Zimmer, a linguist and language columnist who has written for The New York Times and The Wall Street Journal.

● Publications

The Dictionary Society of North America publishes a number of journals and books on topics related to lexicography and linguistics, including the Dictionaries journal, which is dedicated to the study of dictionaries and lexicography. The society also publishes the Newsletter, which includes news and updates on the society's activities, as well as articles and reviews on topics related to language and linguistics. The DSNA has also published several monographs and edited volumes on topics like language contact and language change, featuring contributions from scholars like Salikoko Mufwene and Walt Wolfram. The society's publications are often reviewed in journals like Language and American Speech, which are published by the Linguistic Society of America.

● Conferences

The Dictionary Society of North America hosts regular conferences and meetings on topics related to lexicography and linguistics, which bring together scholars and professionals from around the world. Recent conferences have been held at institutions like University of California, Berkeley, University of Michigan, and McGill University, and have featured keynote speakers like Jean Aitchison and Steven Pinker. The society's conferences often include workshops and panels on topics like language teaching and language learning, and have been sponsored by organizations like the National Endowment for the Humanities and the Social Sciences and Humanities Research Council of Canada. The DSNA also participates in larger conferences, such as the Annual Meeting of the Linguistic Society of America and the International Conference on Historical Linguistics.

● Governance

The Dictionary Society of North America is governed by a board of directors that includes scholars and professionals from a range of institutions and organizations, such as University of Chicago, Columbia University, and the Library of Congress. The society's governance is also influenced by its constitution and bylaws, which outline the organization's mission and objectives. The DSNA is a member of the American Council of Learned Societies and has connections to other organizations, such as the National Humanities Alliance and the Federation of State Humanities Councils. The society's governance is guided by the principles of academic freedom and intellectual curiosity, and is committed to promoting the study and appreciation of language and linguistics in all their forms. Notable past presidents of the DSNA include Sidney Landau and Laurel Sutton, who have both made significant contributions to the field of lexicography.