October 16, 1758 may 28, 1843, was an american lexicographer, textbook pioneer, englishlanguage spelling reformer, political writer, editor, and prolific author. Containing the rudiments of the english language, for the use of schools in the united states. He has been called the father of american scholarship and education. His bluebacked speller books taught five generations of american children how to spell and read. In june of 2004 miss geraldine rodgers sent me her essay, why noah websters way was the right way. Down to 1889, 62,000,000 copies of the book had been sold. The american spelling book national museum of american. His solution to his malaise was to write a spelling book. Noah webster cures the blues with a spelling book new. The nationalist roots of merriamwebsters dictionary. 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. 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. Noah webster might never have published his bluebacked speller if it werent for setbacks in his career and disappointment in love. Compiler of a dictionary which has become the standard for american english.
He was certainly vain and, born in connecticut, undeniably a yankee. For over a century this book has provided america with a standardize system of spelling, grammar and word usage. Noah webster was born in west hartford, connecticut in 1758. Noah webster, american lexicographer known for his american spelling book 1783 and his american dictionary of the english language, 2 vol. Two more dictionaries and another spelling book, 1829 199 15. Noah webster was a journalist, reformer and lexicographer. Containing, the rudiments of the english language, for the use of schools in the united states classic reprint. Other articles where the american spelling book is discussed.
On social media, merriamwebsters has served as a biting critique of the trump regime. This edition of noah websters the american spelling book was published by holbrook and fessenden of brattleborough now brattleboro, vermont in 1821. Noah webster s most popular book is american dictionary of the english language. 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. A spread from the 1795 edition of noah websters the american spelling book. 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. In 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. 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 17581843 american, books, words, and dictionary. It sold so well that webster was able to construct his new haven, connecticut. Containing, the rudiments of the english language, for the use of schools in the united states classic reprint webster, noah on.
Three years after its first publication webster changed the title to its current title. Noah webster himself explains this in his 1828 american dictionary of the english language. Download noah websters the american spelling book for your kindle, tablet, ipad, pc or mobile. Noah webster 1758 1843, was a lexicographer and a language reformer.
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, editor, and prolific author. Yet it took some time before webster saw much income from the books success, and as he floundered for a. He is often called the father of american scholarship and education. The american spelling book, containing an easy standard of pronunciation. 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. This book, first published in 1783, was a very popular textbook for young children in the nineteenth century. Prior to his works coming into wide use in the late 18th century, colonial and. Being an improvement on the american spelling book by webster, noah and a great selection of related books, art and collectibles available now at. Containing the rudiments of the english language, for the use of schools in the united states by. Bound in a distinctive blue cover, it earned the nickname the bluebacked speller. October 16, 1758 may 28, 1843 was an american lexicographer, textbook pioneer, englishlanguage spelling reformer, political writer. Spelling books in the 1700s and early 1800s were used for both phonics and spelling purposes, and were used to teach children to read. An american dictionary of the english language, 1828 171 14.
Image search spelling granger historical picture archive. While it incorporated material from earlier spellers of british origins, it was the first of the american spellers and was widely imitated and copied. Noah websters american spelling book, originally written in the 1780s while teaching in new york, became the most popular book in american education. Noah webster was described by the publisher of a competing dictionary as a vain. 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. American english began to deviate from british english as soon as the united states won its independence from great britain. 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. Overview originally published in 1788, this book is considered the second largest selling book of all time after the bible. The american spelling book by noah webster, hardcover. 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. Before publication of this book in 1783, many schools used thomas dilworths a new guide to the english tongue.
Moreover, though he referred to johnsons dictionary of the english language as a barren desart of philology, the american lexicographer. He became a textbook pioneer, political writer prolific author and editor. Noah webster 17581843, best known for his compilation of the american english dictionary, was also famous in his day for the american spelling book. Discipline our youth in early life in sound maxims of moral, political, and religious duties1500. Todays lesson looks at the man who wrote the book on american english. 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. Hence, noah websters monumental 1828 american dictionary of the english language is a work of great importance to modern readers who care about traditional values. Buy american spelling book by noah webster online at alibris. Books by noah webster author of american dictionary of. Noah webster and the american dictionary mcfarland. Known by its colored cover, websters bluebacked speller remained popular for more than 100 years. Noah websters spelling book method for teaching reading. Though the book went through hundreds of editions, this replica edition represents the last, greatest, and arguably the most influential one.
The american spelling book 1809 edition open library. Noah webster books list of books by author noah webster. 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. Ageappropriate lessons taught schoolchildren to read and write, helping to define and unify american language. Failed attempts to reform english spelling merriamwebster. Noah webster was probably the first person to publish a dictionary in american english. Language is an expression of ideas, and as ideas change over time, words take on new meanings. The american spelling book, containing an easy standard of. Yet its creator, noah webster, was an avowed nationalist and bornagain christian whose goal was to create and preserve a monolithic american culture. 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.
This edition of noah webster s the american spelling book was published by holbrook and fessenden of brattleborough now brattleboro, vermont in 1821. 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. In his lifetime he was also a lawyer, schoolmaster, author, newspaper editor and an outspoken politician. Used by american children as the standard text over the span of nearly a century, this. Woodcut frontispiece from an american speller of 1710 showing the diligent student catching fruits of knowledge, picked for him by his teacher 0175817. The american spelling book work by webster britannica.
His early success in 1782 with the bluebacked spelling book earned him a steady. He came of age during the american revolution and was instrumental in developing education in early america. Noah webster declared government was responsible to. 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. Both his speller and dictionary reflected his principle that spelling, grammar, and usage. American lexicographer known for his american spelling book 1783 and his.
Noah websters dictionary is an indispensable tool for success in your academic career and beyond. In 1782 he was depressed and uncertain about his prospects. Noah websters speller offered simple guidelines for spelling and pronouncing american english words. The elementary spelling book by noah webster, circa 1845. Noah webster has 336 books on goodreads with 4245 ratings. Noah websters the american spelling book websters speller was first published in 1783 under the title the grammatical institute, part 1. Webster was passionate about how people used grammar and spelling that led him to publish a spelling book. Noah webster 17581843 was the man of words in early 19thcentury america.