Publisher's Synopsis
Excerpt from Manual of English Pronunciation and Spelling: Containing a Full Alphabetical Vocabulary of the Language, With a Preliminary Exposition of English Ortho�py and Orthography; And Designed as a Work of Reference for General Use, and as a d104-Book in Schools
Of American writers who have given a careful attention to the subject of pronunciation, Dr. Webster stands first in point of time, and probably first, also, as regards the ex tent to which the in?uence of authority upon this subject has prevailed in the United States, if we may judge from the large circulation in this country of his Dictionary and his Spelling-book. But it is to be observed that both these works have been subjected to considerable revision by their editors, since Dr. Webster's death, in 1843, with respect both to pronunciation and to orthography. In order, there fore, to ascertain the mode in which Dr. Webster himself pronounced words, the compilers of this Manual have exam ined very carefully the edition of his Dictionary published in 1841, which was the last issued during his lifetime. To this was appended, in 1843, shortly after the author's death, a Supplement of new words, which was prepared by his own hand, and which has accordingly been examined with the same obj ect. By comparing this edition with that of 1859, edited by Dr. Goodrich, the changes of pronunciation introduced by the latter have been determined. They were made, according to the statement of Dr. Goodrich in reply to a letter addressed to him on the subject, in con formity with Dr. Webster's known principles, and in con sultation with his son, Mr. William G. Webster, who hadbeen associated with him in his literary labors. We sup posed ourselves, says Dr. Goodrich, to be well acquaint ed with the pfirm'pks on which he would have wished such a revision to be conducted. It is matter of mere conjecture how far he might have been satisfied with each individual alteration. I am not certain he would have rejected any of them. I am sure he would have embraced nearly all, had he lived to understand the progress of the public mind as we have endeavored to do in his behalf. A dictionary, from the nature of the case, is a progressive thing. As the language is in a state of slow but continual progress, the volume that records it must from time to time undergo corresponding changes.
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