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. 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. Description this edition of noah websters the american spelling book was published by holbrook and fessenden of brattleborough now brattleboro, vermont in 1821. At the 1921 session of the american medical association in boston an english gynecologist read a paper and it was printed in the journal. Noah websters american revolution in language the san. Containing, the rudiments of the english language, for the use of schools in the united states classic reprint. The journal refused to agree to his english spellings. Containing the rudiments of the english language, for the use of schools in the united states by noah webster it was amazing 5.
Noah webster 17581843 american, words, dictionary, and books. Noah webster webster, noah, 17581843 the online books. This book offered brief definitions of about 37,000 words. He was descended from john webster of hartford, governor of. June 10, 2004 it was this essay that motivated me to start teaching websters spelling book method of teaching reading and spelling. When he finished in 1828, at the age of 70, noahs dictionary defined over 65,000 words. Merriamwebster has long been the largest dictionary and reference book company in the world, and the massive websters third new international dictionary 1961 is the direct descendant of noah. His bluebacked speller books taught five generations of american children how to spell and read. In noah webster this direction was preparation of a grammatical institute of the english language, the first part being the american spelling book 1783, the famed bluebacked speller, which has never been out of print. Books by noah webster author of american dictionary of the. In june of 2004 miss geraldine rodgers sent me her essay, why noah websters way was the right way.
It was on this day in 1828 that noah websters american dictionary of the english language was published books by this author. Even with todays spellcheck and online resources, many americans still think webster s when they have a question regarding spelling and word definitions. Even with todays spellcheck and online resources, many americans still think websters when they have a question regarding spelling and. October 16, 1758 may 28, 1843 was an american lexicographer, textbook pioneer, englishlanguage spelling reformer, political writer, editor, and prolific author. 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 produced his spelling book, in 1783, as a precursor to the first edition 1828 of his american dictionary of the english language. The american spelling book national museum of american history.
Motivated both by nationalist fervor and a desire to reform spelling, webster proposed numerous spelling changes in. For 100 years, noah s book taught children how to read, spell, and pronounce words. His early success in 1782 with the bluebacked spelling book earned him a steady. Books by noah webster author of american dictionary of. 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 websters lived in new haven, then moved to amherst, ma where noah helped to start amherst college. His goal was to provide a uniquely american, christcentered approach to training children. Websters spelling book na spread from the 1793 edition of. Three systems, supplementary to traditional spelling, were proposed for different purposes.
Etsy your place to buy and sell all things handmade. Spelling books in the 1700s and early 1800s were used for both phonics and spelling purposes, and were used to teach children to read. Before publication of this book in 1783, many schools used thomas dilworths a new guide to the english tongue. The book would later be enlarged 1828 to become an american dictionary of the english language, which established a national. Here is a link to a pdf version of dons webster spelling book method for the twentyfirst century. Noah websters spelling book method for teaching reading. The american spelling book national museum of american. The american spelling book work by webster britannica. Noah webster himself explains this in his 1828 american dictionary of the english language. A grammatical institute of the english language work by. May 29, 2011 noah webster was a journalist, reformer and lexicographer. To aide this effort, webster created an american dictionary known as the american spelling book 1783 that changed the spelling of many english words that would forever stay that way in the american language. Noah websters fighting words by tracy maurer, hardcover. Don worked several years typing and editing websters 1908 elementary spelling book for use today.
He is often called the father of american scholarship and education. 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. But, like most other lexicographers, he was often inconsistent, and the conflict between interiour and exterior, and anteriour and posterior, is his dictionary, laid him open to much criticism. Prior to his works coming into wide use in the late 18th century, colonial and. This edition of noah webster s the american spelling book was published by holbrook and fessenden of brattleborough now brattleboro, vermont in 1821. Links to websters speller and other spellers are at don potters spelling book page. It took him 22 more years to finish his american dictionary of the english language.
American lexicographer noah webster 17581843 was an author whose astonishingly prolific career included numerous textbooks for elementary education. Johnson even advocated translatour, emperour, oratour and horrour. For a while, he thought americans even needed their own alphabet. 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 biography provides detailed information about his. Antique 1908 the elementary spelling hardback book by noah webster, collectable, vintage. Noah webster 17581843 websters innovations, perfecting. Buy websters spelling book na spread from the 1793 edition of noah websters the american spelling book poster print by granger collection at. Noah webster, born october 16, 1758, west hartford, connecticut, u. The elementary spelling book by webster noah webster.
Noah webster cures the blues with a spelling book new england. June 10, 2004 it was this essay that motivated me to start teaching webster s spelling book method of teaching reading and spelling. 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. This edition of noah websters the american spelling book was published by holbrook and fessenden of brattleborough now brattleboro, vermont in 1821. 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. Spelling books in the 1700 s and early 1800 s were used for both phonics and spelling purposes, and were used to teach children to read. Websters 1828 american dictionary of the english language by. Yet it took some time before webster saw much income from the books success, and as he floundered for a steady job, borrowing money. Buy american spelling book by noah webster online at alibris. Webster was instrumental in giving american english a dignity and vitality of its own. Joshua kendall tells the story of his eventful life with narrative charm and psychological insight, exposing websters faults. When he received the proofs he objected to a great many of the spellings, e. Websters dictionary 1828 websters dictionary 1828 spell.
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. Noah webster and moving away from british english october 7, 2014 melissa 8 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. Prior to his works coming into wide use in the late 18th century. The american spelling book by noah webster, hardcover. But it is also synonymous with the idea of america, since his first unabridged american dictionary of the english language, published in 1828 when webster was 70, blatantly stirred the young nations thirst for cultural independence from britain. The great american educator noah webster first published a grammatical institute of the english language, otherwise known as the blue back speller, in 1783. The fourth son of five children of noah and mercy steele webster, young noah showed exceptional scholarly talents as a child, and his father sacrificed much in order that his son would gain the best education available. The spelling reform featured in his first dictionary, a. October 16 anniversary of the birth of noah webster from the article by steve t. The spelling book provided much of websters income for the rest of his life, and its total sales read more. In the book noah implemented changes that helped to improve the teaching of pronunciation, spelling and reading. This book, first published in 1783, was a very popular textbook for young children in the nineteenth century. Noah webster books list of books by author noah webster.
Noah webster forged american nationalism by creating an american. His phenomenally popular american spelling book, first published in 1783, outsold every book in the 19th century except the. Noah webster 1758 1843, was a lexicographer and a language reformer. Noah webster was a famous american lexicographer, political writer, editor and english language spelling reformer. Noah websters spelling book method for teaching reading and.
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. In his lifetime he was also a lawyer, schoolmaster, author, newspaper editor and an outspoken politician. The american spelling book, containing an easy standard of. In the united states, the name noah webster 17581843 is synonymous with the word dictionary. With its distinctive blue cover, it earned the nickname the bluebacked speller and was used over the span of nearly a century.
Failed attempts to reform english spelling merriamwebster. His american spelling book first published in 1783, his a philosophical and practical grammar of english language first published in 1784, and reader published in 1785 were a result of his dissatisfaction with the school textbooks which at that time were primarily obtained from england. Webster put together the dictionary because he wanted americans to have a national identity that wasnt based on the language and ideas of england. October 16, 1758 may 28, 1843 was an american lexicographer, textbook pioneer, englishlanguage spelling reformer, political writer. Noah webster ardently supported the american revolution, though it disrupted his studies and kept him from the law.
Antique noah websters the elementary spelling book 1834 edition. Elementary spelling book by noah webster, antique 1800s kids schoolbook, american spelling book for children, hard cover. 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, a yaleeducated lawyer with an avid interest in language and education, publishes his american dictionary of the english language websters dictionary was one of the first. 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. Containing the rudiments of the english language, for the use of schools in the united states.
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. 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. Noah webster biography life, children, death, history. Noah websters 1828 an american dictionary of the english language was the first great dictionary published in north america, and was enormously influential. Early life noah webster was born on october 16, 1758, in west hartford, connecticut. Websters dictionary 1828 online edition is an excellent reference for classical literature, bible studies, history papers, and the reading of americas national documents. Noah webster, famous for writing the first dictionary of the english language as spoken in the united states, was known in his day for his bold ideas and strong opinions about, well, everything. Containing, the rudiments of the english language, for the use of schools in the united states classic reprint webster, noah on. October 16, 1758 may 28, 1843, was the author of a famous american dictionary, a pioneer of spelling, and a political writer and editor.
In june of 2004 miss geraldine rodgers sent me her essay, why noah webster s way was the right way. Considered to be the thirdbest selling book of all time in america. Prior to his works coming into wide use in the late 18th century, colonial and american students learned from primers imported from england. Noah webster webster, noah, 17581843 the online books page. Noah webster and the dream of a common language connecticut. Websters american dictionary of the english language is. Noah webster was a journalist, reformer and lexicographer. 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. Noah webster 17581843 was the man of words in early 19thcentury america. 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.
The elementary spelling book by noah webster, robert. Noah webster biography childhood, life achievements. Motivated both by nationalist fervor and a desire to reform spelling, webster proposed numerous spelling changes in his work. Noah webster s 1828 an american dictionary of the english language was the first great dictionary published in north america, and was enormously influential. American lexicographer and journalist, was born at west hartford, connecticut, on the 16th of october 1758. The american spelling book, containing the rudiments of the english language. Noah webster was a very learned and devout man, and his ideas about language in his long. Oct 07, 2014 noah webster and moving away from british english october 7, 2014 melissa 8 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.