American lexicographer noah webster 17581843 was an author whose astonishingly prolific. Noah webster and moving away from british english october 7, 2014 melissa 7 comments eliminating the unnecessary u, many duplicate consonants, the redundant e, converting diphthongs into simple vowels and turning the combination of e and r at the end of a word the right way around, americans significantly changed the spelling of many english words. In noah webster american lexicographer known for his american spelling book 1783 and his american dictionary of the english language, 2 vol. Noah webster 1758 1843, was a lexicographer and a language reformer. This book, first published in 1783, was a very popular textbook for young children in the nineteenth century. See all books authored by noah webster, including noah websters first edition of an american dictionary of the english language american christian history education series, and the original blue back speller vocabulary of a warrior, and more on. The first person to write a dictionary of american english and permanently alter the spelling of american english, noah webster through his spelling book taught millions of american children to read for the first halfcentury of the republic and millions more to spell for the following halfcentury. A practical dictionary of the english language, giving the correct spelling, pronunciation, and definitions of words. The elementary spelling book by noah webster, circa 1845. The american spelling book work by webster britannica. Noah webster, born in hartford now west hartford in 1758, understood the power of the pen and the power of languagespecifically a uniquely american language. Websters 1828 american dictionary of the english language. Ageappropriate lessons taught schoolchildren to read and write, helping to define and unify american language. In his lifetime he was also a lawyer, schoolmaster, author, newspaper editor and an outspoken politician.
The first part, often revised, was his famous elementary spelling book, or bluebacked speller, with which he helped to standardize american spelling. Over the course of 385 editions in his lifetime, the title was changed in 1786 to the american spelling book, and again in 1829 to the elementary spelling book. The life and times of an american patriot, which examines websters life and his beliefs about language and its place in american culture. In 1787 webster changed the books name to the american spelling book. Also, for the first time since the books original publication, the text has been newly designed and typeset. October 16, 1758 may 28, 1843, was a lexicographer, textbook pioneer, englishlanguage spelling. In 1806 webster published a compendious dictionary of the english language, the first truly american dictionary. Most people called it the bluebacked speller because of its blue cover and, for the next one hundred years, websters book taught children how to read, spell, and pronounce words. In 1783, he published the american speller, a work that is perhaps the most famous spelling book ever created in the united states. Students who complete websters american spelling book method of teaching reading and spelling will gain a command english reading, vocabulary, and spelling that is available in no other single book.
His first dictionary, a compendious dictionary of the english language, appeared in 1806. Merriam websters resistance to an administration steeped in nativism, however, is complicated by the dictionarys original goal to create and preserve a monolithic american culture. In june of 2004 miss geraldine rodgers sent me her essay, why noah websters way was the right way. October 16, 1758 may 28, 1843, was the author of a famous american dictionary, a pioneer of spelling, and a political writer and editor. As former noah webster house director chris dobbs has noted, webster saw his an american dictionary of the english language first published in 1828 as being more than a. June 10, 2004 it was this essay that motivated me to start teaching websters spelling book method of teaching reading and spelling. She argued from the history of reading and the psychology of reading that websters spelling book method of teaching reading and spelling was superior to all other methods. Noah webster was a very learned and devout man, and his ideas about language in his long. Immediately thereafter he went to work on his magnum opus, an american dictionary of the. American dictionary of the english language noah webster.
The national council for the social studies has named noah a 20 notable social studies trade book for children. An important part of the method webster taught for spelling was to divide a word into its sounds, or syllables. Remedial students improve their reading and spelling after just a few hours with webster. Webster was instrumental in giving american english a dignity and vitality of its own.
This book offered brief definitions of about 37,000 words. The book, which is also known as the bluebacked speller because it originally had a blue cover is reported to have sold more than 100,000,000 copies since it. He is often called the father of american scholarship and education. He has been called the father of american scholarship and education. It took him 22 more years to finish his american dictionary of the english language. Compiler of a dictionary which has become the standard for american english, he also compiled the american spelling book, which was the basic textbook for young readers in early 19thcentury america. It sold so well that webster was able to construct his new haven, connecticut. Noah websters 1828 dictionary online home facebook. The elementary spelling book by webster, noah and a great selection of related books, art and collectibles available now at. Even with todays spellcheck and online resources, many americans still think websters when they have a question regarding spelling and word definitions. Little did he know that this remarkable little gem would become the staple for parents and educators. Man of many words by catherine reef clarion, 2015, and can be found at or for free at your local library 211 pgs. Quarto, two volumes, bound in full periodstyle calf, morocco spine. American dictionary of the english language 1828 facsimile edition by noah webster.
Noah webster and the dream of a common language now. The author does an excellent job telling the story of noah webster and why he decided to develop the american dictionary. Noah websters speller offered simple guidelines for spelling and pronouncing american english words. Noah websters 1828 american dictionary of the english language is a work of great importance for modern readers who care about traditional.
Noah webster 17581843, best known for his compilation of the american english dictionary, was also famous in his day for the american spelling book. For more information on this milestone in american reference publishing, please see noah websters spelling reform and a sample glossary from a compendious dictionary of the english language. Websters dictionary project gutenberg selfpublishing. Born a farmers son in what is now west hartford, connecticut, webster attended yale college. His bluebacked speller books taught five generations of american children how to spell and read, secularizing their education. His goal was to provide a uniquely american, christcentered approach to training children. Noah webster webster, noah, 17581843 the online books. Websters has become a genericized trademark in the u. The nationalist roots of merriamwebsters dictionary. Noah webster 17581843, the author of the readers and spelling books that dominated the american market at the time, spent decades of research in compiling his dictionaries. Noah webster books list of books by author noah webster.
Noah webster 17581843 was the man of words in early 19thcentury america. When he finished in 1828, at the age of 70, noahs dictionary defined over 65,000 words. Originally published in 1788, this book is considered the second largest selling book of all time after the bible. Noah websters influence on american spelling conrad t.
Links to websters speller and other spellers are at don potters spelling book. Bound in a distinctive blue cover, it earned the nickname the bluebacked speller. Websters dictionary is any of the dictionaries edited by noah webster in the early nineteenth century, and numerous related or unrelated dictionaries that have adopted the websters name. Noah webster article about noah webster by the free. You can read about how spellers were used in geraldine e. The great american educator noah webster first published a grammatical institute of the english language, otherwise known as the blue back speller, in 1783. Noah webster was struck by the inconsistencies of english spelling and the obstacles it presented to learners young and old alike and resented that american classrooms were filled only with british textbooks.
Review says noah websters american dictionary played an influential role in the development of a common language in the united states. Noah websters spelling book method for teaching reading. Both his speller and dictionary reflected his principle that spelling, grammar, and usage. Generations of american school children learned spelling and language using this tiny tome by noah webster. Noah webster and his american dictionary by tracey fern and boris kulikov farrar straus giroux, 2015, and can be found at or for free at your local library k12. Before publication of this book in 1783, many schools used thomas dilworths a new guide to the english tongue. Logan state teachers college, harr is burg, virginia in lers taining that modern of wittiest dictionaries, english and h. Known by its colored cover, websters bluebacked speller remained popular for more than 100 years.
Originally published in 1788, it was the standard text for over a century. Pioneer families on the frontiers taught their children to read from it. Rodgerss why noah websters way was the right way, and at lizs history of reading instruction page. In it, he popularized features that would become a hallmark of american english spelling center rather than centre, honor rather. Used by american children as the standard text over the span of nearly a century, this facsimile reproduction of the 1827 edition, complete with. Reading this facsimile reproduction of the 1824 editionfeaturing original typeface and languagerequires perseverance, but the reward is a deeper appreciation. The american spelling book by noah webster, hardcover. His dictionary was first published in 1828 as an american dictionary of the english language. His bluebacked speller books taught five generations of american children how to spell and read. Merriamwebster is the corporate heir to noah websters. Noah webster simple english wikipedia, the free encyclopedia.
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