One of websters most important and lasting contributions to american english was to change, for the better, the spellings of certain groups of words from their. Failed attempts to reform english spelling merriamwebster. 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. Noah webster had a lasting impact on language in the united states. Books by noah webster author of american dictionary of. In 1782 he was depressed and uncertain about his prospects. He is often called the father of american scholarship and education. His first book was the american spelling book, first published in 1783 followed by his first edition of the elementary spelling book in 1829. Containing the rudiments of the english language, for the use of schools in the united states by noah webster it was amazing 5. Both his speller and dictionary reflected his principle that spelling, grammar, and usage. Websters dictionary 1828 online edition is an excellent reference for classical literature, bible studies, history papers, and the reading of americas national documents. The american spelling book national museum of american. Noah webster s 1828 an american dictionary of the english language was the first great dictionary published in north america, and was enormously influential.
The founding documents of the united states of america are contemporary with this 1828 dictionary, as are many other important books and documents of that time. In 1824, with his son william to aid him, he voyaged to europe to complete it. Used by american children as the standard text over the span of nearly a century, this facsimile reproduction of the 1827 edition, complete with. The new webster dictionary and complete vestpocket library. American spelling book 9781557094698 by webster, noah and a great selection of similar new, used and collectible books available now at. Noah webster cures the blues with a spelling book new. In noah webster american lexicographer known for his american spelling book 1783 and his american dictionary of the english language, 2 vol. In it, he popularized features which would become a hallmark of. Noah webster 17581843 was the man of words in early 19thcentury america.
Noah webster reforms the teaching of english in the united. Being an abridgment of the improved grammar of the english language. October 16 anniversary of the birth of noah webster from the article by steve t. Though the book went through hundreds of editions, this replica edition represents the last, greatest, and arguably the most influential one. Don worked several years typing and editing websters 1908 elementary spelling book for use today. Containing the rudiments of the english language, for the use of schools in the united states. Noah webster 1758 1843, was a lexicographer and a language reformer. The american spelling book, containing an easy standard of pronunciation. Noah webster webster, noah, 17581843 the online books. Antique noah websters the elementary spelling book 1834 etsy. Mcguffeys eclectic spelling book includes a pictorial alphabet plus 248 individual lessons on spelling, grammar, pronunciation, abbreviation, usage and more. 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. Before publication of this book in 1783, many schools used thomas dilworths a new guide to the english tongue. 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.
This edition of noah websters the american spelling book was published by holbrook and fessenden of brattleborough now brattleboro, vermont in 1821. A problem in prague by noah webster and a great selection of related books, art and collectibles available now at. The sales of the american spelling book, since its first publi cation, amount to more than two 1111410115 of copies, and they are annually 1nc1easing. 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. Bound in a distinctive blue cover, it earned the nickname the bluebacked speller. The speller was arranged so that it could be easily. Known by its colored cover, webster s bluebacked speller remained popular for more than 100 years. The american spelling book by noah webster, hardcover. It sold so well that webster was able to construct his new haven, connecticut. 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. This 1879 revised edition conforms to webster s international dictionary, and associates each lesson with some principle of. In 1816 webster sold the entire rights to the american spelling book for its third period, 1818 to 1832, to hudson and company of hartford, connecticut, in order to work solely on his major dictionary. Hence, noah webster s monumental 1828 american dictionary of the english language is a work of great importance to modern readers who care about traditional values.
The american spelling book 1809 edition open library. The elementary spelling book by noah webster, circa 1845. Download noah webster s the american spelling book for your kindle, tablet, ipad, pc or mobile. This book, first published in 1783, was a very popular textbook for young children in the nineteenth century. In june of 2004 miss geraldine rodgers sent me her essay, why noah websters way was the right way. Noah webster 17581843 american, books, dictionary, and words. In his lifetime he was also a lawyer, schoolmaster, author, newspaper editor and an outspoken politician. Download noah websters the american spelling book for. Noah webster has 336 books on goodreads with 4229 ratings. Containing, the rudiments of the english language, for the use of schools in the united states classic reprint webster, noah on. Links to websters speller and other spellers are at don potters spelling book page. In 1783 american lexicographer, textbook pioneer, english spelling reformer, political writer, editor, and prolific author noah webster issued from hartford, connecticut the first volume of a grammatical institute of the english language, consisting of a speller 1783, a grammar first published in 1784, and a reader first published in 1785.
His solution to his malaise was to write a spelling book. In june of 2004 miss geraldine rodgers sent me her essay, why noah webster s way was the right way. An american dictionary of the english language 1848 edition online. 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. Noah websters most popular book is 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.
Overview originally published in 1788, this book is considered the second largest selling book of all time after the bible. Noah websters spelling book method for teaching reading. June 10, 2004 it was this essay that motivated me to start teaching websters spelling book method of teaching reading and spelling. Noah webster was a journalist, reformer and lexicographer. About the publisher forgotten books publishes hundreds of thousands of rare and classic books. Down to 1889, 62,000,000 copies of the book had been sold. Noah webster s american dictionary of the english language. Originally published in 1788, this book is considered the second largest selling book of all time after the bible. Noah webster, american lexicographer known for his american spelling book 1783 and his american dictionary of the english language, 2 vol. Known for his dictionaries, he was also a pioneer in the classroom with one of the first spelling books for use in american classrooms.
The first part of the grammatical institute of the english language. One great advantage experienced 111 using this work is the simplicity of the scheme of pronunciation. Published by bureau of publications, teachers college, columbia university, new york 1962 used. 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. Spelling books in the 1700s and early 1800s were used for both phonics and spelling purposes, and were used to teach children to read.
Johns hopkins press, 1947, also by william currie page images at hathitrust webster, noah, 17581843. Webster was instrumental in giving american english a dignity and vitality of its own. October 16, 1758 may 28, 1843 was an american lexicographer, textbook pioneer, englishlanguage spelling reformer, political writer. Yet it took some time before webster saw much income from the book s success, and as he floundered for a.
Websters dictionary 1828 american dictionary of the. 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. 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. His first dictionary, a compendious dictionary of the english language, appeared in 1806. Before publishing his american dictionary of the english language, he produced a series of spelling books. Motivated both by nationalist fervor and a desire to reform spelling, webster proposed numerous spelling changes in.
Ageappropriate lessons taught schoolchildren to read and write, helping to define and unify american language. Noah webster was described by the publisher of a competing dictionary as a vain. 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. His early success in 1782 with the bluebacked spelling book earned him a steady. He was certainly vain and, born in connecticut, undeniably a yankee. Used by american children as the standard text over the span of nearly a century, this. 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.
Noah webster, born october 16, 1758, west hartford, connecticut, u. Being an improvement on the american spelling book. Noah webster 17581843, best known for his compilation of the american english dictionary, was also famous in his day for the american spelling book. The american spelling book work by webster britannica. Noah webster s speller offered simple guidelines for spelling and pronouncing american english words.
Noah webster books list of books by author noah webster. Noah webster himself explains this in his 1828 american dictionary of the english language. Prior to his works coming into wide use in the late 18th century, colonial and. Containing, the rudiments of the english language, for the use of schools in the united states classic reprint. 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. Here is a link to a pdf version of dons webster spelling book method for the twentyfirst century. Moreover, though he referred to johnsons dictionary of the english language as a barren desart of philology, the american lexicographer.
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