The American Spelling Book

"The American Spelling Book," commonly known as the "Blue-backed Speller," was a textbook written by Noah Webster. It became one of the most widely used and influential educational books in American history. Webster's spelling book played a crucial role in standardizing American English and promoting a distinctly American identity in language. Key features and aspects of "The American Spelling Book" include: Spelling and Pronunciation: The primary purpose of the book was to teach spelling, pronunciation, and usage of words. It included a graded series of spelling lessons, starting from basic words and progressing to more complex ones. Phonetic Approach: Webster's spelling book was one of the first educational works to incorporate a phonetic approach to spelling. He simplified spelling by eliminating unnecessary letters and introduced new spelling conventions, aiming for a more phonetic representation of words. Pronunciation Guide: The book included a pronunciation guide to help students pronounce words correctly. Webster introduced a number of changes to reflect American speech patterns, contributing to the development of distinct American pronunciations. Cultural Influence: In addition to spelling and pronunciation, Webster's spelling book contained patriotic and moral content. It included essays, historical documents, and other materials intended to instill a sense of national identity and virtue in American students. Widespread Adoption: "The American Spelling Book" became incredibly popular and was widely adopted in schools throughout the United States. It sold millions of copies and went through numerous editions. Its influence extended well into the 19th century. Educational Legacy: Beyond spelling, Webster's efforts contributed significantly to the standardization of American English. He later went on to publish dictionaries that further shaped American linguistic norms. Noah Webster's impact on American education and language cannot be overstated. "The American Spelling Book" played a crucial role in shaping the linguistic landscape of the United States, and Webster's broader contributions to American lexicography have left a lasting legacy.

Is it "i before e except after c"? Or is it the other way around? Let's face it, most children struggle with spelling. But now they have a fun and easy way to learn all the tips and tricks to spell with confidence. With this book, kids will: Learn basic spelling rules, like "change y to i and add es." Understand punctuation, capitalization, and other technical parts of spelling. Pick up helpful tricks, like putting words into songs and rhymes. Learn fun games and exercises to practice spelling. Study spelling lists to master even the toughest words. And more! Along with 30 fun-filled puzzles and activities, this book offers children, parents, and teachers all the tools they need to buzz with spelling success!

Can ghoti really be pronounced fish? Why is "o" short in glove and love, but long in rove and cove? Why do English words carry such extra baggage as the silent "b" in doubt, the silent "k" in knee, and the silent "n" in autumn? And why do names like Phabulous Phoods and Hi-Ener-G stand out? Addressing these and many other questions about letters and the sounds they make, this engaging volume provides a comprehensive analysis of American English spelling and pronunciation. Venezky illuminates the fully functional system underlying what can at times be a bewildering array of exceptions, focusing on the basic units that serve to signal word form or pronunciation, where these units can occur within words, and how they relate to sound. Also examined are how our current spelling system has developed, efforts to reform it, and ways that spelling rules or patterns are violated in commercial usage. From one of the world's foremost orthographic authorities, the book affords new insight into the teaching of reading and the acquisition and processing of spelling sound relationships.

Originally published in 1788, this book is considered the second largest selling book of all time after the Bible. Bound in a distinctive blue cover, it earned the nickname "the blue-backed speller". Used by American children as the standard text over the span of nearly a century, this facsimile reproduction of the 1827 edition, complete with traditional blue binding, recaptures school days gone by.

In this study of the English language as it is spelled in America, D. W. Cummings demonstrates that behind the apparent disorder of spelling in American English lies a self-regulating and self-reorganizing system that is responsive to four kinds of imperative: phonetic, semantic, etymological, and systemic. Cummings offers a systematic theory of orthography and applies this theory to the American English vocabulary with numerous examples. Cummings also describes the explication of written words into their elements, particles, and processes, and he sets out the tactical and procedural rules that control the distribution and sequencing of vowels and consonants. In the largest section of the book, he provides an exhaustive description of the major and minor correspondences between the sounds of American English words and their spellings. An essential reference work, American English Spelling moves beyond questions of how words are spelled to an understanding of why they are spelled as they are.