Merriam-Webster Dictionary

Webster’s American Dictionary of the English Language took twenty-six years to compile. Interestingly, Webster completed it in 1825 while he was in Cambridge, England for a year abroad. That of course prompts my twisted mind to ask, should we consider it as an ‘American dictionary’?

Leaving aside my lame joke, everyone knows about the social impact of the Merriam-Webster dictionary, especially for its differentiation of American English from British English. In my quick search, I also found a book on that topic. Though I have not read the book yet, I certainly believe that the topic is worth an in-depth study and wish to read it.

I am trying to articulate below a slightly different perspective of the dictionary’s impact on me.

There are certain physical objects in the world that I have reverence for, more like a religious devotee’s reverence for a chalice used in religious prayers. A dictionary is one of them. I also believe that a dictionary is not just an object of reverence, but also symbolizes one’s social status. Owning one at a young age and prominently displaying it on the bookshelf for your guests was a signal that you have come of age. You demand acceptance in society as a person who has a passion for knowledge and curiosity and possesses the necessary tools.

Beyond this sentiment, the particular Webster’s American Dictionary carried further added significance for someone, whose country of birth was an earlier British colony. It implied that a local language and therefore culture around it can evolve independently of the original. American English perhaps was more acceptable to learn than British English with the latter’s tented legacy of colonialism. There was of course an advantage in preparation for standardized tests for higher studies in the US.

At the same time, I don’t want to ignore the subtle negative aspects of owning and flaunting the dictionary. It perhaps was perceived somewhat as a bourgeois thing, a phony adoption of Western ideas, and a betrayal of Indian languages and culture.

My sentiments mentioned above are my current recollections of the formative years, including their nuances. Certainly, the world and my sentiments have both evolved since then. My purpose is to express the deep personal impact of the American dictionary on someone whose native language was not English, despite my muddled rendition. It probably is too unique and unpolished to be found in a published book.

The photos are from the Webster house in the Henry Ford Greenfield Village Museum in Dearborn, Michigan. The house was transported from its original location in Connecticut to the Museum.