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From: Athel Cornish-Bowden <me@yahoo.com>
Newsgroups: sci.lang
Subject: Re: National Dictionary Day (16 October)
Date: Wed, 16 Oct 2024 16:00:15 +0200
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On 2024-10-16 09:30:04 +0000, Ross Clark said:

> "National" here is American. And the day is the birthday of Noah 
> Webster (16/10/1758-28/5/1843). Author of the "National Dictionary".
> Actually called The American Dictionary of the English Language.
> Published 1828. 25 years in the making, 2,000 pages, 70,000 entries.
> Price $20.00.
> 
> "A great number of words in our language require to be defined in a 
> phraseology accommodated to the condition and institutions of the 
> people in these states, and the people of England must look to an 
> American Dictionary for a correct understanding of such terms."
> (from the Preface)
> 
> This almost reads like a claim that the American senses are the correct 
> ones. But I think he is taking the much more reasonable position that 
> where UK and US usage diverge, if UK speakers want to know about the US 
> usage, it makes sense for them to consult an American dictionary.
> 
> Webster's first big success was a Spelling Book (1783), which sold and 
> sold for decades, and made him a household (or schoolroom) name. He had 
> some good ideas about improved spelling, several of which have become 
> standard for USEng.

Others of which have not: "Noah Webster's assertion in his 1828 
dictionary—'Our common orthography is incorrect; the true spelling is 
tung'" hasn't stood the test of time.
> 
> https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Noah_Webster
> https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Webster%27s_Dictionary


-- 
Athel -- French and British, living in Marseilles for 37 years; mainly 
in England until 1987.