This eminent 130-year-old organization “provides opportunities for its members to share their scholarly findings and teaching experiences with colleagues and to discuss trends in the academy.”

The Modern Language Association publishes prolifically, academics congregate annually at their annual convention, and if you had to write long papers in college, you may recall being directed to follow the guidelines in their MLA Handbook for Writers of Research Papers. 

In April 2011 I visited MLA headquarters and was graciously shown around. Love of words and language is apparent everywhere.

While the MLA is, in my experience, primarily for academic types and teachers, interested amateurs can sign up as members and get access to all kinds of publications and databases and online forums. It is kind of cool to belong to an organization with nearly 30,000 language-loving members in 100 countries.

MLA membership rates are prorated based on income. In 2013, fees ranged from $26 for people making less than $15,000 to $292 for those making over $200,000.

Whether you join or not, the Modern Language Association has a spectacular online language map showing the languages spoken throughout the U.S., as well as a database filled with interesting searchable language-related data. For free!