The American spelling book
Book • 1783
The Blue-Backed Speller, originally titled 'The First Part of the Grammatical Institution of the English Language,' was later known as 'The American Spelling Book' and 'The Elementary Spelling Book.
' It was designed to be simple and systematic, starting with the alphabet and progressing through vowels, consonants, syllables, words, and sentences.
Webster introduced a phonetic approach to spelling, simplifying American English by eliminating unnecessary letters and promoting distinct American pronunciations.
The book included patriotic and moral content to instill national identity and virtue in American students.
It became incredibly popular, selling millions of copies over its numerous editions and influencing American education and language profoundly.
' It was designed to be simple and systematic, starting with the alphabet and progressing through vowels, consonants, syllables, words, and sentences.
Webster introduced a phonetic approach to spelling, simplifying American English by eliminating unnecessary letters and promoting distinct American pronunciations.
The book included patriotic and moral content to instill national identity and virtue in American students.
It became incredibly popular, selling millions of copies over its numerous editions and influencing American education and language profoundly.
Mentioned by
Mentioned in 0 episodes
Mentioned as a book that sold 100 million copies by 1883.
Short Stuff: Is It Theater or Theatre?
Mentioned by Mina Kim and Imani Perry as a reading guide used by enslaved people to teach themselves to read.
Imani Perry Finds Blue in the Black American Experience
