Details
WEBSTER, NOAH, 1758-1843, Lexicographer. Autograph manuscript (unsigned) of an essay entitled "Mistakes in Grammar," n.p., n.d. [1830s?]. 4 pages, 4to, 253 x 195mm. (10 x 7 9/16 in.), labelled at top "MS. of Noah Webster," paginated 41-44 in top right-hand corners, without apparent break in text at end, but possibly a section of a larger work).
WEBSTER ARGUES FOR THE IMPORTANCE OF AMERICAN LEXICOGRAPHY
A highly interesting critique by the father of American lexicography of earlier English grammarians, especially Horne Tooke and Lindley Murray (1745-1826) author of the popular Grammar of the English Language (1795), who disregard what Webster terms the "philosophy of language" and linguistic research on word origins. "Fanciful etymologies certainly do harm," he concedes, "but learned & just etymologies throw great light on the present signification of words. Such etymologies are used, not to carry us back to former usage, but to illustrate present usage..." He cites nineteen words whose derivations are incorrectly given by Murray, such as "'About from boda, the first outward boundary,' p. 30. This is not correct. It is the Saxon abutan or onbutan..."; and disputes Murray's statement that "'Nouns - doubtless constituted the first class of words.' This is a mistake; most nouns are formed from verbs. This fact may be demonstrated from the manners of their formation..." He continues with a sizeable inventory of mistakes in Murray, which he quotes, then concludes: "These are only a small part of the errors which abound in the work. The study of grammar tends to adorn & dignify human nature, & meliorate the condition of man! so says the author..."
"The people of this country have been accustomed to receive class-books [beginning readers] from Europe, with confidence in their correctness. But an undue reverence for the supposed superior erudition of trans-atlantic authors ought not to restrain our own scholars from a close examination of the merits of their works, on the principles on which authors rest their decisions...From a careful examination of many of the class-books used in this country, I am convinced that few persons are aware how many errors are daily taught in our seminaries of learning...And it is painful to reflect how many youths are daily toiling toiling to learn what is not true..."
Webster's monumental An American Dictionary of the English Language, 1826, constituted the first dictionary which gave emphasis to the present usage and spelling practice of English as spoken and written in the newly independent nation.
WEBSTER ARGUES FOR THE IMPORTANCE OF AMERICAN LEXICOGRAPHY
A highly interesting critique by the father of American lexicography of earlier English grammarians, especially Horne Tooke and Lindley Murray (1745-1826) author of the popular Grammar of the English Language (1795), who disregard what Webster terms the "philosophy of language" and linguistic research on word origins. "Fanciful etymologies certainly do harm," he concedes, "but learned & just etymologies throw great light on the present signification of words. Such etymologies are used, not to carry us back to former usage, but to illustrate present usage..." He cites nineteen words whose derivations are incorrectly given by Murray, such as "'About from boda, the first outward boundary,' p. 30. This is not correct. It is the Saxon abutan or onbutan..."; and disputes Murray's statement that "'Nouns - doubtless constituted the first class of words.' This is a mistake; most nouns are formed from verbs. This fact may be demonstrated from the manners of their formation..." He continues with a sizeable inventory of mistakes in Murray, which he quotes, then concludes: "These are only a small part of the errors which abound in the work. The study of grammar tends to adorn & dignify human nature, & meliorate the condition of man! so says the author..."
"The people of this country have been accustomed to receive class-books [beginning readers] from Europe, with confidence in their correctness. But an undue reverence for the supposed superior erudition of trans-atlantic authors ought not to restrain our own scholars from a close examination of the merits of their works, on the principles on which authors rest their decisions...From a careful examination of many of the class-books used in this country, I am convinced that few persons are aware how many errors are daily taught in our seminaries of learning...And it is painful to reflect how many youths are daily toiling toiling to learn what is not true..."
Webster's monumental An American Dictionary of the English Language, 1826, constituted the first dictionary which gave emphasis to the present usage and spelling practice of English as spoken and written in the newly independent nation.