Celebrating Noah Webster

In the year 1800, a New England teacher named Noah Webster announced his intention to produce a "dictionary of the American language." Webster understood American English was developing its own flavor apart from the King's English, and he saw the need to document it.

Webster's great achievement, of course, was the dictionary which finally appeared after 28 years of work. He defined many thousands of words, and helped establish the character of the American language. At a time when regional dialects, and even foreign languages, were common in America, Webster helped to bond the young nation by shaping the way Americans spoke and wrote.

To mark his 250th birthday this week, Yale University is hosting a series of lectures, exhibits of artifacts, and even a visit to Webster's grave. If you have a chance to visit the Yale Library, the exhibit runs until the end of November. And if you love the English language, and especially the American version of it, don't forget to wish Noah Webster a happy birthday this Thursday.

Image: Noah Webster/Library of Congress