Compiler of a dictionary which has become the standard for american english. Download noah websters the american spelling book for your kindle, tablet, ipad, pc or mobile. Image search spelling granger historical picture archive. Noah webster cures the blues with a spelling book new. 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. Discipline our youth in early life in sound maxims of moral, political, and religious duties1500. Ageappropriate lessons taught schoolchildren to read and write, helping to define and unify american language. Noah webster 17581843 was the man of words in early 19thcentury america. In 1782 he was depressed and uncertain about his prospects.
Webster s 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. Containing, the rudiments of the english language, for the use of schools in the united states classic reprint. Noah websters spelling book method for teaching reading. Failed attempts to reform english spelling merriamwebster. He came of age during the american revolution and was instrumental in developing education in early america. Noah webster was described by the publisher of a competing dictionary as a vain. 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. Noah webster was probably the first person to publish a dictionary in american english. Before publication of this book in 1783, many schools used thomas dilworths a new guide to the english tongue. An american dictionary of the english language, 1828 171 14. Noah webster has 336 books on goodreads with 4245 ratings. In his lifetime he was also a lawyer, schoolmaster, author, newspaper editor and an outspoken politician.
His solution to his malaise was to write a spelling book. Yet it took some time before webster saw much income from the books success, and as he floundered for a. Yet its creator, noah webster, was an avowed nationalist and bornagain christian whose goal was to create and preserve a monolithic american culture. The american spelling book, containing an easy standard of. American lexicographer known for his american spelling book 1783 and his. Todays lesson looks at the man who wrote the book on american english. Noah websters 1828 an american dictionary of the english language was the first great dictionary published in north america, and was enormously influential motivated both by nationalist fervor and a desire to reform spelling, webster proposed numerous spelling changes in his work. Webster was instrumental in giving american english a dignity and vitality of its own.
Noah webster 17581843 american, books, words, and dictionary. Noah websters american spelling book, originally written in the 1780s while teaching in new york, became the most popular book in american education. Moreover, though he referred to johnsons dictionary of the english language as a barren desart of philology, the american lexicographer. Down to 1889, 62,000,000 copies of the book had been sold. Noah webster 17581843, best known for his compilation of the american english dictionary, was also famous in his day for the american spelling book. Noah webster and the american dictionary mcfarland. Noah webster 17581843, along with his contemporary ben franklin, advocated simplified spelling, championed american spelling, and added such words as skunk, squash, hickory, lengthy, and chowder to the lexicon. He has been called the father of american scholarship and education. Known by its colored cover, websters bluebacked speller remained popular for more than 100 years. The nationalist roots of merriamwebsters dictionary. October 16, 1758 may 28, 1843 was an american lexicographer, textbook pioneer, englishlanguage spelling reformer, political writer, editor, and prolific author. Webster was passionate about how people used grammar and spelling that led him to publish a spelling book. Noah webster, american lexicographer known for his american spelling book 1783 and his american dictionary of the english language, 2 vol.
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. This book, first published in 1783, was a very popular textbook for young children in the nineteenth century. Noah webster was born in west hartford, connecticut in 1758. Noah webster was a journalist, reformer and lexicographer. Spelling books in the 1700s and early 1800s were used for both phonics and spelling purposes, and were used to teach children to read. His early success in 1782 with the bluebacked spelling book earned him a steady. Being an improvement on the american spelling book by webster, noah and a great selection of related books, art and collectibles available now at. Noah websters the american spelling book websters speller was first published in 1783 under the title the grammatical institute, part 1. The great american educator noah webster first publis. In june of 2004 miss geraldine rodgers sent me her essay, why noah websters way was the right way. Containing the rudiments of the english language, for the use of schools in the united states.
Other articles where the american spelling book is discussed. It sold so well that webster was able to construct his new haven, connecticut. Noah webster s most popular book is american dictionary of the english language. Woodcut frontispiece from an american speller of 1710 showing the diligent student catching fruits of knowledge, picked for him by his teacher 0175817. Bound in a distinctive blue cover, it earned the nickname the bluebacked speller. He is often called the father of american scholarship and education. The american spelling book by noah webster, hardcover. Three years after its first publication webster changed the title to its current title. Noah websters speller offered simple guidelines for spelling and pronouncing american english words. Containing the rudiments of the english language, for the use of schools in the united states by. 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.
Two more dictionaries and another spelling book, 1829 199 15. This edition of noah webster s the american spelling book was published by holbrook and fessenden of brattleborough now brattleboro, vermont in 1821. The american spelling book work by webster britannica. 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. 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 1758 1843, was a lexicographer and a language reformer. October 16, 1758 may 28, 1843, was an american lexicographer, textbook pioneer, englishlanguage spelling reformer, political writer, editor, and prolific author. Websters 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. October 16 anniversary of the birth of noah webster from the article by steve t. Prior to his works coming into wide use in the late 18th century, colonial and. Noah webster himself explains this in his 1828 american dictionary of the english language. Both his speller and dictionary reflected his principle that spelling, grammar, and usage. 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. His bluebacked speller books taught five generations of american children how to spell and read.
A spread from the 1795 edition of noah websters the american spelling book. 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. The american spelling book 1809 edition open library. Containing, the rudiments of the english language, for the use of schools in the united states classic reprint webster, noah on. Though the book went through hundreds of editions, this replica edition represents the last, greatest, and arguably the most influential one. American english began to deviate from british english as soon as the united states won its independence from great britain. Noah websters dictionary is an indispensable tool for success in your academic career and beyond. Noah webster might never have published his bluebacked speller if it werent for setbacks in his career and disappointment in love. Noah webster books list of books by author noah webster. The american spelling book, containing an easy standard of pronunciation. He became a textbook pioneer, political writer prolific author and editor.
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 declared government was responsible to. The american spelling book national museum of american. He was certainly vain and, born in connecticut, undeniably a yankee. Language is an expression of ideas, and as ideas change over time, words take on new meanings. Used by american children as the standard text over the span of nearly a century, this. October 16, 1758 may 28, 1843 was an american lexicographer, textbook pioneer, englishlanguage spelling reformer, political writer. In noah webster american lexicographer known for his american spelling book 1783 and his american dictionary of the english language, 2 vol. While it incorporated material from earlier spellers of british origins, it was the first of the american spellers and was widely imitated and copied. Overview originally published in 1788, this book is considered the second largest selling book of all time after the bible. The webster spelling book, commonly called the bluebacked speller, was originally published in 1788, revised as the american spelling book in 1829, and revised by webster again in 1841 as the elementary spelling book. For over a century this book has provided america with a standardize system of spelling, grammar and word usage. Buy american spelling book by noah webster online at alibris.
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