Noah Webster
Noah Webster, familiar to most Americans as the writer of the first American dictionary, worked as a schoolteacher in the late eighteenth century. As he taught, he came to realize that there were some major problems with the way English was taught in the American schools. The United States of America had recently declared its independence from England, and was struggling to form its own identity. The schools were still using textbooks from England, and these books varied in consistency when it came to spelling, pronunciation and grammar (Short Summary Website). As a teacher, and as a patriot, Webster felt a need for an American textbook. He wanted consistency and he wanted it to reflect that there was an American
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Although it did not cover a great deal, it laid the foundation for his later dictionaries. It included distinctly American spellings of words and pronunciations. It also supported Webster's belief in democracy. By seeking to standardize the learning of language in American classrooms, he was putting into play a belief that the semantics of a language play a key role in a person's power to create a system of ideas, thus creating a more educated citizen able to participate in a democratic system (Noah Webster's American Dictionary Website).
This book was revolutionary not only because it sought to "Americanize" the classroom, but because of the tone of the book. Most previous grammars were prescriptive, meaning that they informed the student how the words should be spoken or spelled. The "Blue-Backed Speller," on the other hand, was a descriptive work, meaning that it merely showed how words were actually used and pronounced by real speakers of the language (Millward 245).
Although the blue-backed speller was a great success, it merely provided Webster with a paycheck that enabled him to compile what would be his greatest work: a complete dictionary of the English language that was tailored to the speakers of the United States. Webster wanted a dictionary that was not only easy to use, but wished it to follow the descriptive philosophy that he had begun with his speller. As a result, he streamlined the spellings of many words (Brett Website),
He copied the dictionary in order to expand his vocabulary and learn how to write:” I saw the best thing I could do was get hold of a dictionary–to study, to learn some words” While doing all this reading and studying he learned about slavery’s horrors” It made such an impact upon me that it later became one of my favorite subjects” (270).
Many know Stephen F. Austin as the father of Texas, but not many know his experiences that led to this. Stephen F. Austin was the child of Moses and Maria Austin. He was born on the third of November in 1793, in Virginia. He and his family moved to Missouri, and by the age of eleven Stephen was sent off to Connecticut to attend a school called Bacon Academy. Stephen graduated with honors at the age of fourteen. He then spent two years at Transylvania University located in Lexington, Kentucky. Stephen returned in the year 1810 and served several years as a member of the Missouri territorial legislature. Stephen wasn't a member for long, and because of this he was looking for new opportunities in Arkansas. Being as successful as he was, Stephen
Noah did not have the funds to attend law school so, in order to earn the money, he taught school (42). However, Noah soon grew tired of teaching. In the summer of 1780, he took a job with a County Recorder of Deeds. He did office work by day, and at night he studied law. In this way, Webster prepared himself for the bar exams, which he took and passed in 1781. He then became a licensed lawyer (46). The patriotic fever that Noah had caught during his college days did not leave him. To inform his pupils about the Revolutionary War, Noah would share articles from the newspaper (44). Noah also played a role in the founding of American Government as it was emerging as a new country. At this time many people were voicing their opinions on what the new government of the United States should look like. Webster penned a suggestion for the American constitution, which he called Six Sketches of American Policy. He presented this work to George Washington in 1875 (Noah Webster Papers). In these sketches, he believed that a solid central government should supply an army and navy, collect taxes to aid citizens, produce a set form of currency, and run a mail service (Collins 64). Many of these ideas are now part of the current American government. Noah also wrote: “It is up to the government to establish good schools, to make sure every boy and girl gets proper chance to learn” (qtd in Collins 45). Feeling yet another wave of
“Authority and American Usage” written by David Foster Wallace, poses an argument about the English language, and the different beliefs of its usage. This essay was written in defense of Bryan A. Garner’s, A Dictionary of Modern American Usage. His argument in “Authority and American Usage” is the difference the between prescriptivism perception and the descriptivism perception (Linguistic terms that could easily be made into smaller, more understandable words for people like me). Since the beginning of time, language has evolved. From biblical times, to Shakespearean times, to present day; the English language has been continuously changing since it’s birth and has no intentions on stopping.
John Quincy Adams was the only son of a president to become president. He had an impressive political background that began at the age of fourteen. He was an intelligent and industrious individual. He was a man of strong character and high principles. By all account, his presidency should have been a huge success, yet it wasn't. John Quincy Adams' presidency was frustrating and judged a failure because of the scandal, attached to his election, the pettiness of his political rivals, and his strong character. John Quincy Adams was born on July 1767, in Braintree Massachusetts. His parents were John and Abigail Adams. "Quincy, had every advantage as a youngster. At the time of his birth, his father was an increasingly
George Washington Carver was born in Diamond Grove, Missouri during the spring of 1864 or 1865. Like many slaves, he was uncertain of his birth date. His mother, Mary, was a slave who belonged to Moses and Susan Carver. As an infant, slave raiders kidnapped his mother. The childless carvers reared George and his older brother, James.
George Washington was born on February 22, 1732 in Westmoreland County, Virginia. He attended school for approximately eight years. Washington lived with his mother until the age of 16. At the age of 15, Washington took a job as an assistant land surveyor. In 1748, he began working in the Shanandoah Valley to help survey the land holdings of Lord Fairfax. By 1749, he established a good reputation as a land surveyor and was appointed Culpeper counties official land surveyor.
Eventually Malcolm X learned decided to copy the entire dictionary which eventually broadened his word-base.
In George Orwell’s 1984, Winston Smith is a prime example of the oppressed fighting against the oppressor by his actions of minute resistance, giving his love to another, and joining a secret activists group.
The language Bradford uses in his excerpt is very effective towards his audience as in the use of pathos and different point of views. The main reason and purpose for his whole writing is to tell the history of the plymouth plantation, and the daily struggles of the pilgrims. With this said it could be concluded that the point of view of Bradford could be affected or altered. The point of view in this excerpt is first person which is told on the view of Bradford himself. He himself sees what is happening from his perspective which would make his writing more thorough and accurate. Since his writing would be more detailed it affects the audience differently as his point of view is now broader and give the audience a sense of current situation.
John Smith is one of the most famous people in American literature history. He was a dedicated man to his country of England, and wanted nothing more than to claim America in the name of the king. During his adventures to the new land he encountered many new things and people including a young Native American woman named Pocahontas. He also wrote many journals enticing people to want to come to America. This shall tell you the story of John Smith from his journeys as a young man all the way to when he finally came to America, and how his writings still influence people to immigrate to America still today.
Andrew Wyeth was born July 12, 1917 in Chadds Ford, Pennsylvania. He was the youngest of five children. Andrew was a sickly child and so his mother and father made the decision to pull him out of school after he contracted whooping cough. He received schooling in all subjects including art education.
Daniel Webster was born in Salisbury, New Hampshire, on January 18, 1782. Daniel was delicate, but a brilliant child, his family realized this, and made great expense to put Daniel and his brother Ezekiel through school. After graduating from Dartmouth College, he studied law and was admitted to the bar in Boston in 1805. Daniel Webster, was a well known public speaker and major constitutional lawyer; he was a major congressional representative for the Northern Whigs during his twenty years he served in the U.S. Senate. He became famous as orator for his speeches supporting the Union and opposing the nullification movement and its supporters. Daniel was one of the greatest orators and debaters of his time, he fought
Throughout history, there have been great leaders, some for the good of humanity, and some for the not-so good of humanity. The one element all leaders have in common is in some way, have changed the course of history. The one great leader I have found to be interesting and envision of a great leader is William Bradford, an original passenger on the Mayflower, and the first ever governor elected on what is to become, American Soil.