The american spelling book by noah webster, hardcover barnes. Being an improvement on the american spelling book noah webster full view 1846. When he finished in 1828, at the age of 70, noahs dictionary defined over 65,000 words. Containing the rudiments of the english language, for the use of schools in the united states by noah webster it was amazing 5. This edition of websters spelling book is a reprint of an 1866 edition, but the type has been enlarged and many portions have been retypeset in modern type. Being an improvement on the american spelling book by noah webster. Noah webster cures the blues with a spelling book new england. Being an improvement on the american spelling book by noah webster online at alibris. 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. Noah webster was in the sixth generation of his family in america. 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. In noah webster american lexicographer known for his american spelling book 1783 and his american dictionary of the english language, 2 vol.
By 1859, according to appleton and company of new york, the firm was printing the speller at the rate of a million and onehalf copies per year. Used by american children as the standard text over the span of nearly a century, this facsimile reproduction of the 1827 edition, complete with. Yet it took some time before webster saw much income from the books success, and as he floundered for a. This press turned out 525 copies an hour, or 5,250 a day. The american spelling book, containing an easy standard of pronunciation. For over 150 years, merriam webster has been americas leading and mosttrusted provider of language information. Get premium, high resolution news photos at getty images.
The american spelling book national museum of american. Noah webster 17581843 was the man of words in early 19thcentury america. Used by american children as the standard text over the span of nearly a century, this. Both his speller and dictionary reflected his principle that spelling, grammar, and usage. 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. Being an improvement on the american spelling book. Before publication of this book in 1783, many schools used thomas dilworths a new guide to the english tongue. Noah webster s book is fascinating reading for todays students and teachers alike, as well as for the average citizen, as there is much to learn from it. This book, first published in 1783, was a very popular textbook for young children in the nineteenth century. Yet the sales of websters elementary spelling book, now dubbed affectionately the blueback speller or just ole blueback, continued to increase. The american spelling book work by webster britannica.
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. It was noah webster who finally achieved the divorce between english example and american practise. Noah websters spelling book method for teaching reading. The speller was arranged so that it could be easily. Being an improvement on the american spelling book by noah webster 1998, hardcover, spiral. Bound in a distinctive blue cover, it earned the nickname the bluebacked speller. He is often called the father of american scholarship and education. Noah websters speller offered simple guidelines for spelling and pronouncing american english words. Noah webster was born on october 16, 1758, in west hartford, connecticut. The american spelling book by noah webster, hardcover. Noah webster has 336 books on goodreads with 4245 ratings. 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.
Here is a link to a pdf version of dons webster spelling book method for the twentyfirst century. It took him 22 more years to finish his american dictionary of the english language. It sold so well that webster was able to construct his new haven, connecticut. Noah webster reforms the teaching of english in the united.
British spelling was americanized largely thanks to noah. Webster believed that the fledgling country needed its own textbooks and a codified language around which to unite. 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. The elementary spelling book is an ideal tool for home education, personal tutoring, private schools, or just to supplement public education. Noah websters most popular book is american dictionary of the english language. Books by noah webster author of american dictionary of. Johnsons choice was, according to the oxford english dictionary, likely based on a very particular edition of an earlier dictionary by one nathan bailey. Noah webster 17581843, best known for his compilation of the american english dictionary, was also famous in his day for the american spelling book. Originally published in 1788, this book is considered the second largest selling book of all time after the bible. Generations of american school children learned spelling and language using this small hardcover book by noah webster. Noah webster, senior, noahs father, was born in hartford in 1722 and settled early in what was then called the west division of hartford now known as west hartford, and he lived to the ripe old age of 91. In june of 2004 miss geraldine rodgers sent me her essay, why noah websters way was the right way. In 1783, webster published volume 1 of a grammatical institute of the english language a. Originally published in 1788, it was the standard text for over a century.
Noah webster, born october 16, 1758, west hartford, connecticut, u. 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. We have new and used copies available, in 18 editions. 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. Don worked several years typing and editing websters 1908 elementary spelling book for use today. On being american 1967, selections from his writings. Merriam webster is the most reliable, trusted, easytouse dictionary and thesaurus online. The american spelling book, containing an easy standard of. Webster was instrumental in giving american english a dignity and vitality of its own. The nationalist roots of merriamwebsters dictionary. 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 elementary spelling book 1908 nice frontispiece. Ageappropriate lessons taught schoolchildren to read and write, helping to define and unify american language. There is a free pdf edition available on the spelling book resource page of my website.
Noah websters spelling wins and fails merriamwebster. An important part of the method webster taught for spelling was to divide a word into its sounds, or syllables. Our products also include bilingual dictionaries and the official scrabble dictionary. Noah webster appears to have had no doubts about including only the center spelling of this word in both his 1806 and 1828 dictionaries, despite the fact that samuel johnson included only centre in his 1755 dictionary. Containing the rudiments of the english language, for the use of schools in the united states. This book offered brief definitions of about 37,000 words. Noah webster 17581843 american, dictionary, books, and words. The elementary spelling book by webster, noah and a great selection of related books, art and collectibles available now at. Noah webster was a journalist, reformer and lexicographer.
Reading this facsimile reproduction of the 1824 editionfeaturing original typeface and languagerequires perseverance, but the reward is a deeper. Compiler of a dictionary which has become the standard for american english. In his lifetime he was also a lawyer, schoolmaster, author, newspaper editor and an outspoken politician. Noah websters spelling book method for teaching reading and spelling march 14, 2014 announcement i am delighted to announce the publication of noah websters spelling book method of teaching reading and spelling. Noah webster biography life, children, death, history. Noah webster ardently supported the american revolution, though it disrupted his studies and kept him from the law. Links to websters speller and other spellers are at don potters spelling book page. Noah webster 1758 1843, was a lexicographer and a language reformer. While it may be inappropriate to resurrect it as an official school text, it certainly has a place in every school library. 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. On top of the changes mentioned above, webster also popularized the dropping of. Wikimedia commons he proposed several reforms to english spelling in his first dictionary in 1806.
June 10, 2004 it was this essay that motivated me to start teaching websters spelling book method of teaching reading and spelling. Though the book went through hundreds of editions, this replica edition represents the last, greatest, and arguably the most influential one. October 16, 1758 may 28, 1843 was an american lexicographer, textbook pioneer, englishlanguage spelling reformer, political writer. Known by its colored cover, websters bluebacked speller remained popular for more than 100 years. The happy results further motivated me to retype websters method and re. Being an improvement on 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. Being an improvement on the american spelling book noah webster full view 1839. This edition of noah websters the american spelling book was published by holbrook and fessenden of brattleborough now brattleboro, vermont in 1821. Noah webster, american lexicographer known for his american spelling book 1783 and his american dictionary of the english language, 2 vol. The elementary spellingbook, being an improvement on the american spelling book the national standard author. Noah webster was a very learned and devout man, and his ideas about language in his long. The father of american scholarship and education, american lexicographer noah webster 17581843 was an author. In 1787 webster changed the books name to the american spelling book.
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