Noah webster is considered the father of american english and was the author of the first comprehensive american dictionary. Title page of the first known edition of noah webster s speller entitled american spelling book, 1788. Before publication of this book in 1783, many schools used thomas dilworths a new guide to the english tongue. Jill lepore is a staff writer at the new yorker and a professor of. Both his speller and dictionary reflected his principle that spelling, grammar, and usage.
Noah webster 1758 1843, was a lexicographer and a language reformer. In noah webster american lexicographer known for his american spelling book 1783 and his american dictionary of the english language, 2 vol. Noah webster was an american lexicographer, journalist, textbook author, and spelling reformer. He could not have known his cure for the blues would teach generations. American english began to deviate from british english as soon as the united states won its independence from great britain. Noah websters spelling book method for teaching reading. Moreover, though he referred to johnsons dictionary of the english language as a barren desart of philology, the american lexicographer. The influence of this spelling book was immediate and profound. The american spelling book work by webster britannica. This book offered brief definitions of about 37,000 words. When he finished in 1828, at the age of 70, noahs dictionary defined over 65,000 words. For 100 years, noahs book taught children how to read, spell, and pronounce words.
Don worked several years typing and editing websters 1908 elementary spelling book for use today. An american dictionary of the english language, 1828 171 14. Links to websters speller and other spellers are at don potters spelling book. Yet it took some time before webster saw much income from the books success, and as he floundered for a steady job, borrowing money. His solution to his malaise was to write a spelling book. Noah websters most popular book is american dictionary of the english language. Noah webster was a journalist, reformer and lexicographer. He is often called the father of american scholarship and education. Webster s new twentieth century dictionary of the english language 2 volumes by. She argued from the history of reading and the psychology of reading that webster s spelling book method of teaching reading and spelling was superior to all other methods. He was descended from john webster of hartford, who was governor of connecticut in 16561657, and on his mothers side from governor william bradford of plymouth. Yet its creator, noah webster, was an avowed nationalist and bornagain christian whose goal was to create and preserve a monolithic american culture. While websters association with the dictionary is common knowledge, it is not so widely known that noah webster produced his own modern english translation of the bible in 1833.
Containing the rudiments of the english language, for the use of schools in the. Noah webster was described by the publisher of a competing dictionary as a vain. Buy american spelling book by noah webster online at alibris. The brainchild of noah webster, the differences in spelling between the two dialects are essentially based upon benjamin franklins idea that people spell best who do not know how to spell, meaning the more. Mar 30, 2018 on social media, merriam websters has served as a biting critique of the trump regime. Noah webster s influence on american spelling conrad t.
Prior to his works coming into wide use in the late 18th century, colonial and. Before publishing his american dictionary of the english language, he produced a series of spelling books. First published in 1783, webster planned to call his speller the american instructor, but the president of yale, ezra stiles, suggested a more grandiose title. October 16, 1758 may 28, 1843, was a lexicographer, textbook pioneer, englishlanguage spelling reformer, political writer, editor, and prolific author. Known by its colored cover, websters bluebacked speller remained popular for more than 100 years.
Noah webster 17581843, best known for his compilation of the american english dictionary, was also famous in his day for the american spelling book. Motivated both by nationalist fervor and a desire to reform spelling, webster proposed numerous spelling changes in his work. Converse, 1828 volume i introductory material, and ai. Noah webster webster, noah, 17581843 the online books page.
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. Most people called it the bluebacked speller because of its blue cover and, for the next one hundred years, webster s book taught children how to read, spell, and pronounce words. Mcguffey s eclectic spelling book includes a pictorial alphabet plus 248 individual lessons on spelling, grammar, pronunciation, abbreviation, usage and more. In 1782 he was depressed and uncertain about his prospects. Noah webster 17581843 websters innovations, perfecting. Dec 26, 2015 why do americans color but the british colour. Quarto, two volumes, bound in full periodstyle calf, morocco spine label, gilt titles and tooling to the spine, front and rear panel. The american spelling book, containing an easy standard of pronunciation. It sold so well that webster was able to construct his new haven, connecticut.
An american dictionary of the english language 1848 edition online. The elementary spelling book by noah webster, robert. Though an excellent and highly accurate translation, websters bible was not widely accepted, due to the continued popularity of the. Americas english and the influence of noah webster by rabecca mcdonald, kingsbridge library june 17, 2010. An overnight sensation, websters guide to spelling soon replaced its predecessor dilworths abyselpha and remained popular for the next 100 years although in 1829, the name changed to websters. His first dictionary, a compendious dictionary of the english language, appeared in 1806. An american dictionary of the english language 2 volumes. The american spelling book national museum of american. 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. 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. Webster s innovations, perfecting the spelling book for reading instruction, other works 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. It was noah webster who finally achieved the divorce between english example and american practise. Websters the american spelling book was commonly known as the blue backed speller due to its blue cover, and was one of the most popular spelling books since its first publication in 1783.
Noah webster and the american dictionary mcfarland. Noah webster webster, noah, 17581843 the online books. Noah webster, american lexicographer known for his american spelling book 1783 and his american dictionary of the english language, 2 vol. Noah webster s speller offered simple guidelines for spelling and pronouncing american english words. Two more dictionaries and another spelling book, 1829 199 15. Webster was instrumental in giving american english a dignity and vitality of its own. This 1879 revised edition conforms to webster s international dictionary, and associates each lesson with some principle of sound, meaning, or. In june of 2004 miss geraldine rodgers sent me her essay, why noah webster s way was the right way. Noah websters speller offered simple guidelines for spelling and pronouncing american english words.
For 100 years, noah s book taught children how to read, spell, and pronounce words. This edition of noah websters the american spelling book was published by holbrook and fessenden of brattleborough now brattleboro, vermont in 1821. Get premium, high resolution news photos at getty images. Quarto, two volumes, bound in full periodstyle calf, morocco spine. Containing, the rudiments of the english language, for the use of schools in the united states classic reprint. Oct 16, 2018 26 of noah websters spelling changes that didnt catch on.
Merriamwebsters resistance to an administration steeped in nativism, however, is complicated by the dictionarys original goal to create and preserve a monolithic american culture. Noah webster s american dictionary of the english language. 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. The websters lived in new haven, then moved to amherst, ma where noah helped to start amherst college. Books by noah webster author of american dictionary of the. Oct 07, 2014 he transformed this scholarly treatise into a practical work later that same year with the first edition of his american spelling book. Motivated both by nationalist fervor and a desire to reform spelling, webster proposed numerous spelling changes in. American lexicographer and journalist, was born at west hartford, connecticut, on the 16th of october 1758. The american spelling book national museum of american history. The american spelling book by noah webster, hardcover. Noah webster 17581843 was the man of words in early 19thcentury america. Containing the rudiments of the english language, for the use of schools in the united states noah webster websters and skinners, 1822 children 168 pages.
His bluebacked speller books taught five generations of american children how to spell and read, secularizing their education. A yale graduate, webster had published the nations first daily newspaper and written a spelling book, but he returned to new haven to fulfill his dream of writing the first american dictionary. Webster s basic textbook, first called the first part of the grammatical institute of the english language and later the american spelling book, became, in 1829, the elementary spelling book. Most people are familiar with the name noah webster as the father of the american dictionary, a book that we all grew up with and still use today. The nationalist roots of merriamwebsters dictionary. Containing the rudiments of the english language for the use of schools in the united states by noah webster 1836 edition online, the famous blue backed speller. Until lyman cobb entered the lists with his new spelling book, in 1842.
Description this edition of noah websters the american spelling book was published by holbrook and fessenden of brattleborough now brattleboro, vermont in 1821. The elementary spelling book by noah webster, circa 1845. He was certainly vain and, born in connecticut, undeniably a yankee. Rodgerss why noah websters way was the right way, and at lizs history of reading instruction page. Remedial students improve their reading and spelling after just a few hours with webster. 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. 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. You can read about how spellers were used in geraldine e. Noah webster webster, noah, 17581843 a wikipedia article about this author is available webster, noah, 17581843. In it, he popularized features which would become a hallmark of. He was descended from john webster of hartford, governor of. Though the book went through hundreds of editions, this replica edition represents the last, greatest, and arguably the most influential one.
Links to websters speller and other spellers are at don potters spelling book page. Ageappropriate lessons taught schoolchildren to read and write, helping to define and unify american language. He died in new haven, connecticut on may 28, 1843 at the age of 84. Here is a link to a pdf version of dons webster spelling book method for the twentyfirst century. Thank noah webster december 26, 2015 three editions of noah websters bluebacked speller. The father of american scholarship and education, american lexicographer noah webster 17581843 was an author whose astonishingly prolific career included numerous textbooks for elementary education. Noah webster might never have published his bluebacked speller if it werent for setbacks in his career and disappointment in love.
In the book noah implemented changes that helped to improve the teaching of pronunciation, spelling and reading. Noah webster books list of books by author noah webster. Noah webster cures the blues with a spelling book new. Three years after its first publication webster changed the title to its current title. American dictionary of the english language noah webster. The elementary spelling book by noah webster and a great selection of related books, art and collectibles available now at. Noah webster s the american spelling book webster s speller was first published in 1783 under the title the grammatical institute, part 1. Noah websters spelling book method for teaching reading and. This book, first published in 1783, was a very popular textbook for young children in the nineteenth century.
May 28, 2019 even with todays spellcheck and online resources, many americans still think websters when they have a question regarding spelling and word definitions. Noah webster and the dream of a common language connecticut. In his lifetime he was also a lawyer, schoolmaster, author, newspaper editor and an outspoken politician. Even with todays spellcheck and online resources, many americans still think websters when they have a question regarding spelling and word definitions. May 29, 2011 noah webster was a journalist, reformer and lexicographer.
Yet, as major a contribution as that is, noah websters influence on american life and language is larger than many of us know. Image search spelling granger historical picture archive. Noah websters american dictionary of the english language. It took him 22 more years to finish his american dictionary of the english language. What many people may not know is that besides being a.
Known by its colored cover, webster s bluebacked speller remained popular for more than 100 years. The websters lived in new haven, then moved to amherst, ma where noah. Noah webster s 1828 an american dictionary of the english language was the first great dictionary published in north america, and was enormously influential. Noah webster 17581843, the author of the readers and spelling books which dominated the american market at the time, spent decades of research in compiling his dictionaries.
428 813 636 203 719 236 533 1613 1350 364 504 741 256 1063 673 250 1292 1316 257 1401 1361 693 921 885 938 1150 1573 1414 1574 1041 134 443 1287 1341 1476 1170 1354 1397 772 373 1463 479 168 262 563 1319