[Conntech] From Aam to Zygomatic - Readers needed!

[Kirsten Kilbourn]

Posted on behalf of Randi Ashton-Pritting, Director, University of Hartford
Libraries - 

FROM AAM TO ZYGOMATIC: A READING OF NOAH WEBSTER’S 1828 DICTIONARY

THE LETTER A

The occasion.  During the year 2008, the Town of West Hartford, Connecticut,
will celebrate the 250th anniversary of the birth of Noah Webster, author of
The American Dictionary of the English Language, who was born in West
Hartford 250 years ago, on October 16, 1758.  

The dictionary.  To mark the 250th anniversary of Webster’s birth, the
President’s College of the University of Hartford and the Noah Webster House
plan a complete public reading of all of the approximately 63,000 headwords
in the 1828 edition of Webster’s Dictionary.  

The program.  The program will begin on Saturday, April 19, at the
University of Hartford’s Community Day, when the President’s College will
stage a public reading of all of the 4,686 headwords beginning with the
letter A.  

The follow-up.  The College and Noah Webster House will issue a challenge to
other West Hartford institutions – schools, corporations, retail businesses,
civic organizations, places of worship – to each adopt one of the letters of
the alphabet and stage a similar public reading between April and October.
The plan is to complete the reading on October 16, when the letters X, Y and
Z will be read.  The only requirement is that all of the headwords get read.
Sponsoring organizations may add their own embellishments to their programs.

 
Readers needed.  For the April 19 event, which will take place from 11:00
am. to 3:00 pm. on the University of Hartford campus, the President’s
College needs approximately 60 readers or groups of readers.  Everyone is
welcome to volunteer.  Readers should sign up in advance.  They will be
allocated approximately 70 words, in alphabetic sequence, and a specific
time when they should read their words.  Their words, along with the
definitions accompanying them, will be sent to them in advance, so that they
have time to prepare. They must read every word just as it is written, and
in the same sequence.

How to read.  Each reader (or group of readers if it is a group project)
will be given up to four  minutes to read his or her words, with additional
embellishments as desired (reading some of the definitions, singing, acting
out, miming, providing translations of the words into other languages,
bringing along some of the objects that the words stand for [or pictures of
them], providing musical accompaniment – whatever strikes their fancy).  

Sound.  The expectation is that the reading will take place in the open air,
if the weather is good, and inside if not.  A microphone and sound system
will be available.

For more information - President’s College, Mortensen Library, University of
Hartford (kacmarcik at hartford.edu, 860-768-4269)
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