Application of Mnemonic Techniques
Learning Foreign Languages
Foreign languages are the ideal subject area for the use of memory techniques: the process of learning words is essentially a matter of association - associating what is initially a meaningless collection of syllables with a word in a language that we understand.
Traditionally this association has been carried out by repetition - saying the word in ones own language and the foreign language time and time and time and time again.
This whole tedious way of acquiring vocabulary can be eliminated by three good techniques:
Before we explain how to remember vocabulary, you will need to understand the principles of:
Explanation of Language Mnemonics
The Link Word Techniques
The Link Word technique uses an image to link a word in one language with a word in another language. The following are examples of use of the Link Word technique:
English:French vocabulary
rug/carpet - tapis - image of an ornate oriental carpet with a tap as the central design woven in chrome thread
grumpy - grognon - a grumpy man groaning with irritation
to tease - taquiner - a wife teasing her husband as she takes in the washing.
The technique was formalized by Dr. Michael Gruneborg. Link Word language books have been produced in many language pairs to help students acquire the basic vocabulary needed to get by in a language (usually about 1000 words). It is claimed that using this technique this basic vocabulary can be acquired in just 10 hours.
The Town Language Mnemonic
This is a very elegant, effective mnemonic designed by Dominic O'Brien that fuses a sophisticated variant of the Roman Room system with the Link Word system described above.
The fundamental principle rests on the fact that the basic vocabulary of a language relates to everyday things: things that are typically found in a small town, city, or village. The basis of the technique is that the student should choose a town that he or she is very familiar with, and should use objects within that place as the cues to recall the images that link to foreign words.
Foreign languages are the ideal subject area for the use of memory techniques: the process of learning words is essentially a matter of association - associating what is initially a meaningless collection of syllables with a word in a language that we understand.
Traditionally this association has been carried out by repetition - saying the word in ones own language and the foreign language time and time and time and time again.
This whole tedious way of acquiring vocabulary can be eliminated by three good techniques:
- Using mnemonic techniques to link foreign and own-language words: the link word technique
- The Town Language Mnemonic
- The hundreds most common words
Before we explain how to remember vocabulary, you will need to understand the principles of:
Explanation of Language Mnemonics
The Link Word Techniques
The Link Word technique uses an image to link a word in one language with a word in another language. The following are examples of use of the Link Word technique:
English:French vocabulary
rug/carpet - tapis - image of an ornate oriental carpet with a tap as the central design woven in chrome thread
grumpy - grognon - a grumpy man groaning with irritation
to tease - taquiner - a wife teasing her husband as she takes in the washing.
The technique was formalized by Dr. Michael Gruneborg. Link Word language books have been produced in many language pairs to help students acquire the basic vocabulary needed to get by in a language (usually about 1000 words). It is claimed that using this technique this basic vocabulary can be acquired in just 10 hours.
The Town Language Mnemonic
This is a very elegant, effective mnemonic designed by Dominic O'Brien that fuses a sophisticated variant of the Roman Room system with the Link Word system described above.
The fundamental principle rests on the fact that the basic vocabulary of a language relates to everyday things: things that are typically found in a small town, city, or village. The basis of the technique is that the student should choose a town that he or she is very familiar with, and should use objects within that place as the cues to recall the images that link to foreign words.
Remembering Dates
Dates can be remembered as short number sequences as described in the article on Remembering Numbers, associated with the event to which they relate. The number of the millennium is often not needed.
Dates can be remembered as short number sequences as described in the article on Remembering Numbers, associated with the event to which they relate. The number of the millennium is often not needed.
Remembering Lists
Remembering lists of information are what many of the mnemonics described in this section are all about. Almost any information can be coded into these mnemonic lists - all that is needed is the imagination to come up with the relevant associations.
Remembering lists of information are what many of the mnemonics described in this section are all about. Almost any information can be coded into these mnemonic lists - all that is needed is the imagination to come up with the relevant associations.
Remembering Numbers
Using mnemonic systems, remembering numbers becomes extremely simple.
There are a number of approaches, depending on the types of numbers being remembered:
1. Short numbers
These can be stored in a number of ways:
The easiest, but least reliable, is to use simple Number/Rhyme images associated in a story.
A simple peg system can be used, associating numbers from e.g. the Number/Rhyme System, organized with, eg. the Alphabet system.
More accurately, they can be remembered as one or a few images using the major System, or as e.g. one image in the Dominic System.
2. Long numbers (e.g. Pi)
This can be remembered using the Journey System. At a simple level, numbers can be stored at each stop on the journey using e.g. the Number/Shape system. The amount of digits stored at each stop can be increased initially by using either the Major System or the Dominic Method, and enhanced still further by using simple techniques to Expand memory System.
Using all the simple techniques in concert, there is no reason why you should not be able to store a 100 digit number with relatively little effort. Using the more powerful systems, holding it to 1000 digits might not be too much of a challenge.
Using mnemonic systems, remembering numbers becomes extremely simple.
There are a number of approaches, depending on the types of numbers being remembered:
1. Short numbers
These can be stored in a number of ways:
The easiest, but least reliable, is to use simple Number/Rhyme images associated in a story.
A simple peg system can be used, associating numbers from e.g. the Number/Rhyme System, organized with, eg. the Alphabet system.
More accurately, they can be remembered as one or a few images using the major System, or as e.g. one image in the Dominic System.
2. Long numbers (e.g. Pi)
This can be remembered using the Journey System. At a simple level, numbers can be stored at each stop on the journey using e.g. the Number/Shape system. The amount of digits stored at each stop can be increased initially by using either the Major System or the Dominic Method, and enhanced still further by using simple techniques to Expand memory System.
Using all the simple techniques in concert, there is no reason why you should not be able to store a 100 digit number with relatively little effort. Using the more powerful systems, holding it to 1000 digits might not be too much of a challenge.
Remembering Peoples' Names
Remembering names require a slightly different approach to all the others explained so far in this section however is relatively simple when approached in a positive frame of mind.
The following techniques can be used:
1. Face association
Examine a person's face discretely when you are introduced. Try to find an unusual feature, whether ears, hairline, forehead, eyebrows, eyes, nose, mouth, chin, complexion, etc.
Create an association between that characteristic, the face, and the name in your mind. The association may be to associate the person with someone you know with the same name, or may be to associate a rhyme or image from the name with the person's face or defining feature.
2. Repetition
When you are introduced, ask for the name to be repeated. Use the name yourself as often as possible (without overdoing it!). If it is unusual, ask how it is spelled, or where it is comes from, and if appropriate, exchange cards - the more often you hear and see the name, the more likely it is to sink in.
Also, after you have left that person's company, review the name in your mind several times. If you are particularly keen you might decide to make notes.
Summary
The methods suggested for remembering names are fairly simple and obvious, but are quite powerful. Association either with images of a name or with other people can really help recall of names. Repetition and review help it to sink in. An important thing to stress is practice, patience, and progressive improvement in remembering names.
Remembering names require a slightly different approach to all the others explained so far in this section however is relatively simple when approached in a positive frame of mind.
The following techniques can be used:
1. Face association
Examine a person's face discretely when you are introduced. Try to find an unusual feature, whether ears, hairline, forehead, eyebrows, eyes, nose, mouth, chin, complexion, etc.
Create an association between that characteristic, the face, and the name in your mind. The association may be to associate the person with someone you know with the same name, or may be to associate a rhyme or image from the name with the person's face or defining feature.
2. Repetition
When you are introduced, ask for the name to be repeated. Use the name yourself as often as possible (without overdoing it!). If it is unusual, ask how it is spelled, or where it is comes from, and if appropriate, exchange cards - the more often you hear and see the name, the more likely it is to sink in.
Also, after you have left that person's company, review the name in your mind several times. If you are particularly keen you might decide to make notes.
Summary
The methods suggested for remembering names are fairly simple and obvious, but are quite powerful. Association either with images of a name or with other people can really help recall of names. Repetition and review help it to sink in. An important thing to stress is practice, patience, and progressive improvement in remembering names.