A Grammatical Institute of the English Language

by Noah Webster

Part 2, Containing A Plain And Comprehensive Grammar, Grounded On The True Principles And Idioms Of The Language.

First published August 1, 2008

About the author

Noah Webster, Jr. (October 16, 1758 – May 28, 1843), was a lexicographer, textbook pioneer, English-language spelling reformer, political writer, editor, and prolific author. He has been called the "Father of American Scholarship and Education". His blue-backed speller books taught five generations of American children how to spell and read, secularizing their education. According to Ellis (1979) he gave Americans "a secular catechism to the nation-state".

Webster's name has become synonymous with "dictionary" in the United States, especially the modern Merriam-Webster dictionary that was first published in 1828 as An American Dictionary of the English Language. He is considered one of the Founding Fathers of the nation.

Reviews

[Brent Woo · Rating 3 out of 5]

If you need to know what Noah Webster is all about, just read the intro to this "Institute". He lays out all his strong opinions that the British "neglect" their own language with "ridiculous practices", on the proper way to teach children to read, and how all other existing dictionaries fall short. It is interesting to see the supposed progression here: apparently schoolkids are supposed to know words like "effulgence" and "testatrix" by page 40 in order to figure out syllables. The list of cities and populations is funny. This would probably be a fun piece to read next to other dictionary essays like "Authority and American Usage" in Consider the Lobster and Other Essays.

Also it preſents an occaſion for the modern reader to practice reading ſome long S and catchwords!