Those studying the king james bible will find this a useful reference. The webster spelling book, commonly called the blue backed speller, was originally published in 1788, revised as the american. The elementary spelling book being an improvement on the american spelling book webster, noah, ll. Choose from 52 different sets of noah webster flashcards on quizlet. Used by american children as the standard text over the span of nearly a century, this facsimile reproduction of the 1827 edition, complete with. Find the elementary spelling book by webster, noah at biblio. Noah webster himself explains this in his 1828 american dictionary of the english language. 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. In 1782 he was depressed and uncertain about his prospects. Being an improvement on the american spelling book by noah webster online at alibris. In noah webster american lexicographer known for his american spelling book 1783 and his american dictionary of the english language, 2 vol. Don worked several years typing and editing websters 1908 elementary spelling book for use today.
Johns hopkins press, 1947, also by william currie page images at hathitrust webster, noah, 17581843. 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 american spelling book, containing an easy standard of. Containing, the rudiments of the english language, for the use of schools in the united states classic reprint.
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. Originally published in 1788, it was the standard text for over a century. It sold so well that webster was able to construct his new haven, connecticut. 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. Being an improvement of the american spelling book by noah webster see other formats. 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. His bluebacked speller books taught five generations of american children how to spell and read. Noah webster 17581843 was the man of words in early 19thcentury america. See all books authored by noah webster, including noah webster s 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. 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. Containing, the rudiments of the english language, for the use of schools in the united states classic reprint webster, noah on.
Generations of american school children learned spelling and language using this tiny tome by noah webster. His bluebacked speller books taught five generations of american children how to spell and read, secularizing their education. His early success in 1782 with the bluebacked spelling book earned him a steady. Download noah webster s the american spelling book for your kindle, tablet, ipad, pc or mobile.
Noah webster ardently supported the american revolution, though it disrupted his studies and kept him from the law. This book, first published in 1783, was a very popular textbook for young children in the nineteenth century. Two more dictionaries and another spelling book, 1829 199 15. Bound in a distinctive blue cover, it earned the nickname the bluebacked speller. On being american 1967, selections from his writings. Noah webster was a journalist, reformer and lexicographer. Noah webster webster, noah, 17581843 the online books page. He has been called the father of american scholarship and education. In 1806 webster published a compendious dictionary of the english language, the first truly american dictionary. Noah webster reforms the teaching of english in the united states.
While it may be inappropriate to resurrect it as an official school text, it certainly has a place in every school library. Noah webster cures the blues with a spelling book new england. Noah webster, born october 16, 1758, west hartford, connecticut, u. Noah webster was born october 16, 1758, in new hartford, connecticut, to noah sr. Noah websters spelling book method for teaching reading and. Noah webster and the american dictionary mcfarland. In june of 2004 miss geraldine rodgers sent me her essay, why noah webster s way was the right way. Immediately thereafter he went to work on his magnum opus, an american dictionary of the. American lexicographer known for his american spelling book 1783 and his american dictionary of the english language, 2 vol. The american spelling book, containing an easy standard of pronunciation. 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.
It ended with two pages of important dates in american history, beginning with columbuss in 1492 and ending with the. Three systems, supplementary to traditional spelling, were proposed for different purposes. 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. Books by noah webster author of american dictionary of the.
Both his speller and dictionary reflected his principle that spelling, grammar. The earliest american author and the first person to distinguish the fine line between american english and british english, noah webster sought change and taught millions of americans to read and spell. 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. Mar 14, 2014 noah webster s spelling book method for teaching reading and spelling march 14, 2014 announcement i am delighted to announce the publication of noah webster s spelling book method of teaching reading and spelling.
Find the american spelling book by webster, noah at biblio. October 16, 1758 may 28, 1843 was an american lexicographer, textbook. The institute was completed with a grammar 1784 and a reader 1785. Before publication of this book in 1783, many schools used thomas dilworths a new guide to the english tongue.
We are happy to bring this back at a competitive price. October 16, 1758 may 28, 1843 was an american lexicographer, textbook pioneer, englishlanguage spelling reformer, political writer, editor, and prolific author. October 16 anniversary of the birth of noah webster from the article by steve t. The american spelling book 1809 edition open library. Noah webster 17581843, best known for his compilation of the american english dictionary, was also famous in his day for the american spelling book. Don worked several years typing and editing webster s 1908 elementary spelling book for use today. 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.
Noah webster 17581843 american, dictionary, words, and books. Noah webster produced his spelling book, in 1783, as a precursor to the first edition 1828 of his american dictionary of the english language. 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. Webster was instrumental in giving american english a dignity and vitality of its own. Originally published in 1788, this book is considered the second largest selling book of all time after the bible. Uncommonly good collectible and rare books from uncommonly good booksellers.
Webster believed that the fledgling country needed its own textbooks and a codified language around which to unite. In his eightyfive years, noahs life is intensely interesting. By an early biographer it is related how a little palefaced man came into a printing office with a slip of paper. The 1828 version of webster s dictionary is excellent for those who wish to study older books written in english from that time period and before. An american dictionary of the english language by noah. Ageappropriate lessons taught schoolchildren to read and write, helping to define and unify american language. The american spelling book national museum of american. This edition of noah webster s 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. Other articles where the american spelling book is discussed.
Three years after its first publication webster changed the title to its current title. An american dictionary of the english language, 1828 171 14. Pioneering american philologist noah webster prepared an elementary spelling book in 1782, publishing it the next year as the first part of a grammatical institute of the english language. The american spelling book by noah webster, hardcover.
Though the book went through hundreds of editions, this replica edition represents the last, greatest, and arguably the most influential one. Noah webster s speller offered simple guidelines for spelling and pronouncing american english words. Every possible reezon that could ever be offered for altering the spelling of wurds, stil exists in full force. Spelling books in the 1700s and early 1800s were used for both phonics and spelling purposes, and were used to teach children to read. Prior to his works coming into wide use in the late 18th century, colonial and. Known by its colored cover, webster s bluebacked speller remained popular for more than 100 years. The american spelling book containing the rudiments of the english language, for the use of schools in the united states the rev. Students who complete websters american spelling book method of teaching read ing and spelling will gain a command english reading, vocabulary, and. Noah websters spelling book method for teaching reading. Also when they shall be afraid of that which is high, and fears shall be in the way, and the almond tree shall flourish, and the grasshopper shall be a burden, and desire shall fail. Motivated both by nationalist fervor and a desire to reform spelling, webster proposed numerous spelling changes in. The happy results further motivated me to retype websters method and re. American spelling book noah webster bauman rare books. Both his speller and dictionary reflected his principle that spelling, grammar, and usage.
The american spelling book work by webster britannica. Noah webster, american lexicographer known for his american spelling book 1783 and his american dictionary of the english language, 2 vol. We have new and used copies available, in 17 editions. Here is a link to a pdf version of dons webster spelling book method for the twentyfirst century. Noah webster books list of books by author noah webster. Noah webster s the american spelling book webster s speller was first published in 1783 under the title the grammatical institute, part 1.
Noah webster reforms the teaching of english in the united. For more information on this milestone in american reference publishing, please see noah webster s spelling reform and a sample glossary from a compendious dictionary of the english language. 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. The elementary spelling book by webster, noah and a great selection of related books, art and collectibles available now at. 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. 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. May 28, 2019 in 1783, webster published volume 1 of a grammatical institute of the english language a. June 10, 2004 it was this essay that motivated me to start teaching websters spelling book method of teaching reading and spelling. Reading this facsimile reproduction of the 1824 editionfeaturing original typeface and languagerequires perseverance, but the reward is a deeper appreciation of days gone by. Noah webster published dictionaries and spelling books to conform american spelling and grammar.
Students who complete webster s 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. October 16, 1758 may 28, 1843, was a lexicographer, textbook pioneer, englishlanguage spelling reformer, political writer, editor, and prolific author. 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. The nationalist roots of merriamwebsters dictionary. 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. Links to websters speller and other spellers are at don potters spelling book page. Noah webster might never have published his bluebacked speller if it werent for setbacks in his career and disappointment in love. In 1783, webster published volume 1 of a grammatical institute of the english language a. Containing the rudiments of the english language, for the use of schools in the united states noah webster t. Noah webster cures the blues with a spelling book new. American spelling book originally published in 1788, this book is considered the second largest selling book of all time after the bible. The speller was arranged so that it could be easily. Learn noah webster with free interactive flashcards.
His solution to his malaise was to write a spelling book. Yet it took some time before webster saw much income from the book s success, and as he floundered for a. Noah webster s 1828 an american dictionary of the english language was the first great dictionary published in north america, and was enormously influential. While it incorporated material from earlier spellers of british origins, it was the first of the american spellers and was widely imitated and copied. June 10, 2004 it was this essay that motivated me to start teaching webster s spelling book method of teaching reading and spelling. The elementary spelling book 1908 nice frontispiece. Noah webster and the dream of a common language connecticut.
704 1149 757 248 1559 929 377 795 1057 285 1372 367 972 1287 908 586 1426 1240 911 942 1478 51 1204 176 1318 804 701 236 641 1326 1108 525 1400 1342 1367 1378 537 703 974 180 1347 794 1497