About the Society

The Society for the Study of the Indigenous Languages of the Americas (SSILA) was founded in December 1981 as the international scholarly organization representing American Indian linguistics, and was incorporated in 1997. Membership in SSILA is open to all those who are interested in the scientific study of the languages of the native peoples of North, Central and South America. The Society has approximately 900 members, more than a third of them residing outside the United States.

All members receive the SSILA Newsletter, a quarterly publication that contains news, announcements, notices of recent publications, current journal contents, a listing of recent dissertations, and several other regular features. (The Newsletter is sent at the airmail rate to all members residing outside the United States, at no additional charge.) If you would like to purchase previous volumes of the SSILA Newsletter, most are still avaliable for US $3.50 per issue. A "SSILA Bulletin" with late-breaking news, job openings, etc.,is also e-mailed to all members (and to others on request) every two to fourweeks. The "SSILA Bulletin" is archived on this website in pdf format.

Other activities and benefits of the Society include:

• SSILA holds an annual winter meeting, featuring several topical sessions on various aspects of American Indian linguistics, usually meeting jointly with the Linguistic Society of America. A limited amount of travel assistance is available.
• The Mary R. Haas Book Award is presented annually to an unpublished monograph that the Society judges to be a significant contribution to our knowledge of American indigenous languages. Manuscripts receiving the Haas Award are eligible for publication under the Society's sponsorship.
• A Membership Directory is published yearly in February, and includes an index of the language specializations of the Society's members, as well as postal and e-mail addresses. The Directory is available to members for US $3.50 (or $5.00 Canadian) in addition to basic dues.
• Mouton de Gruyter regularly offers substantial discounts to SSILA members on its publications in American Indian linguistics and allied topics.
• The SSILA Bulletin with late-breaking news, job openings, etc., is posted regularly (at least once a month, and sometimes more frequently) on the Internet. Back issues are archived at the SSILA website.
• Dues are payable on a calendar year basis, in either US or Canadian dollars. (Special payment arrangements are available for European members; inquire of the Executive Secretary). Dues for 2008 are $20 (US) or $21 (Canadian). Dues may also be paid in advance for 2009 and 2010 at current rates.
• A membership application is available here.
• The officers and committees are listed here.
• The Bylaws of the Society are available as a web page or in PDF.