Section Z (Linguistics and Language Sciences) of the American Association for the Advancement of Science (AAAS) is open to everyone with an interest in human language and how it works, including:

• how children develop language
• how language is housed in our brains
• how language changes over the life span
• how language sometimes becomes disordered in children and adults
• how the effects of language disorders can be reduced
• how languages are similar, how they differ, and why how spoken and signed languages are similar in some ways and different in others
• how a language grows, changes, and dies.

Section Z promotes understanding of linguistics and allied language sciences by presenting symposia and sponsoring speakers at AAAS meetings, and by encouraging members and their colleagues to present their work in ways that are understandable to other scientists and to the public. Because the study of language is highly interdisciplinary, Section Z actively seeks to cooperate with other AAAS Sections in planning symposia. 

The following sessions, sponsored or recommended by Section Z, will be presented at the upcoming AAAS Annual Meeting in Chicago:

• Friday, Feb 14, 8:30-11:30:  Talking to Kids Really Matters: Early Language Experience Shapes Later Life Chances
• Saturday, Feb 15, 1:00-2:30:  Variability in Speech and Language in Individuals with Autism and Associated Traits
• Monday, Feb 17, 9:45-12:45:  The Large Cognitive Implications of Small Languages

Section Z will hold its business meeting on Friday, Feb 14 from 7:00-9:00 PM in the Wright room at the Hyatt Regency Chicago.  Please contact Tom Wasow, Secretary of Section Z, for more information.