Basic Theory of memory Improvement part I
Association of Ideas – Tutorial 1
For your first
exercise in Association, let’s assume you want to memorise these ten everyday,
unrelated items, in sequence: banana, car, newspaper, sausage, pen, tree,
watch, tie, television, football. In order to do this, you are going to
consciously apply the basic memory rule defined in the Introduction, but with
an an important addition – You Can Remember Any New Information If You
Associate It To Something You Already Know In Some Ludicrous Way.
exercise in Association, let’s assume you want to memorise these ten everyday,
unrelated items, in sequence: banana, car, newspaper, sausage, pen, tree,
watch, tie, television, football. In order to do this, you are going to
consciously apply the basic memory rule defined in the Introduction, but with
an an important addition – You Can Remember Any New Information If You
Associate It To Something You Already Know In Some Ludicrous Way.
First, picture a
banana in your mind. You can’t apply the rule yet. But now we come to the next
item – car. If we assume that you already know banana, you can now apply the
memory rule. You simply need to create a ridiculous picture, or image, in your
mind’s eye – an association between banana and car.
banana in your mind. You can’t apply the rule yet. But now we come to the next
item – car. If we assume that you already know banana, you can now apply the
memory rule. You simply need to create a ridiculous picture, or image, in your
mind’s eye – an association between banana and car.
In order to do this
you need a ludicrous, far-fetched, crazy, illogical, absurd, – picture or image
to associate the two items. What you don’t want is a logical or sensible
picture. For example, a sensible picture might be – someone sitting in a car
eating a banana. Although this would not be something you would expect to see
every day, it is in not in any way bizarre or impossible.
you need a ludicrous, far-fetched, crazy, illogical, absurd, – picture or image
to associate the two items. What you don’t want is a logical or sensible
picture. For example, a sensible picture might be – someone sitting in a car
eating a banana. Although this would not be something you would expect to see
every day, it is in not in any way bizarre or impossible.
An impossible, crazy,
picture might be – a gigantic banana is driving a car along the motorway, or
you open a car door and billions of bananas tumble out and knock you over.
These are ludicrous, illogical pictures.
picture might be – a gigantic banana is driving a car along the motorway, or
you open a car door and billions of bananas tumble out and knock you over.
These are ludicrous, illogical pictures.
What you need to do is
select one of these pictures, or a crazy image you thought of yourself, and see
it your mind for just a fraction of a second. Be careful not to picture the
words banana and car. You need to see the action you’ve selected – the huge
banana driving the car, or the mountain of bananas tumbling out of a car, or
whichever image you’ve decided on. See that picture in your mind’s eye for just
an instant, right now.
select one of these pictures, or a crazy image you thought of yourself, and see
it your mind for just a fraction of a second. Be careful not to picture the
words banana and car. You need to see the action you’ve selected – the huge
banana driving the car, or the mountain of bananas tumbling out of a car, or
whichever image you’ve decided on. See that picture in your mind’s eye for just
an instant, right now.
The next item on your
list is newspaper. Assuming that you already remember car, you now need to form
a ridiculous association in your mind between car and newspaper. For example,
you open a newspaper and a car leaps out of the pages and knocks you over. Or
you are driving a huge rolled up newspaper instead of a car. Or you are driving
a car when a massive sheet of newspaper appears in front of you, which the car
rips as you drive through it. Choose one of these images, or one you conjured
up yourself, and picture it clearly for a split second.
list is newspaper. Assuming that you already remember car, you now need to form
a ridiculous association in your mind between car and newspaper. For example,
you open a newspaper and a car leaps out of the pages and knocks you over. Or
you are driving a huge rolled up newspaper instead of a car. Or you are driving
a car when a massive sheet of newspaper appears in front of you, which the car
rips as you drive through it. Choose one of these images, or one you conjured
up yourself, and picture it clearly for a split second.
Sausage is the next
item to remember, so you now need to form a ludicrous association between
newspaper and sausage. You could picture yourself eating rolled up newspapers
and eggs for breakfast instead of sausages and eggs, or you are reading a
gigantic sausage which has lots of news printed on it, or a paperboy is walking
along a street pushing very long sausages through letterboxes instead of
newspapers. See one of those crazy images.
item to remember, so you now need to form a ludicrous association between
newspaper and sausage. You could picture yourself eating rolled up newspapers
and eggs for breakfast instead of sausages and eggs, or you are reading a
gigantic sausage which has lots of news printed on it, or a paperboy is walking
along a street pushing very long sausages through letterboxes instead of
newspapers. See one of those crazy images.
Next on the list is
pen. Associate it to sausage. See yourself trying to write with a sausage
instead of a pen, or you cut into a sausage with a knife and fork and gallons
of ink shoot out of the sausage into your face. Picture one of these scenarios
clearly in your mind.
pen. Associate it to sausage. See yourself trying to write with a sausage
instead of a pen, or you cut into a sausage with a knife and fork and gallons
of ink shoot out of the sausage into your face. Picture one of these scenarios
clearly in your mind.
The next item is tree.
Picture millions of pens growing on a tree instead of leaves, or a colossal
fountain pen is growing in your garden instead of a tree. Be sure to see the
image clearly.
Picture millions of pens growing on a tree instead of leaves, or a colossal
fountain pen is growing in your garden instead of a tree. Be sure to see the
image clearly.
Watch is the next item
on the list. Picture a tree with lots of branches which are wearing giant
wristwatches, or you look at your watch and see that there is a tree growing
out of it, with roots curling up your arm. Select one of these images, or one
of your own, and see it for an instant in your mind’s eye.
on the list. Picture a tree with lots of branches which are wearing giant
wristwatches, or you look at your watch and see that there is a tree growing
out of it, with roots curling up your arm. Select one of these images, or one
of your own, and see it for an instant in your mind’s eye.
Tie comes next. See
yourself wearing an elongated wristwatch instead of a tie, or an enormously
long tie is tied around your wrist instead of a watch, so long that it drags
along the floor.
yourself wearing an elongated wristwatch instead of a tie, or an enormously
long tie is tied around your wrist instead of a watch, so long that it drags
along the floor.
The next item to be
remembered is television. You might picture yourself with a television hanging
around your neck instead of a tie, or you switch on the television and a vast,
horribly spotted tie bursts out of the screen, unrolling itself for yards and
yards. Select a crazy association between tie and television, and see the
picture in your mind.
remembered is television. You might picture yourself with a television hanging
around your neck instead of a tie, or you switch on the television and a vast,
horribly spotted tie bursts out of the screen, unrolling itself for yards and
yards. Select a crazy association between tie and television, and see the
picture in your mind.
The final item on the
list is football. See a football match where the players are kicking around a
television instead of a football. Or you are watching a football game on
television when millions of footballs suddenly burst throught the screen and
hit you in the face. Picture one of those images.
list is football. See a football match where the players are kicking around a
television instead of a football. Or you are watching a football game on
television when millions of footballs suddenly burst throught the screen and
hit you in the face. Picture one of those images.
If you have really
tried to see all those pictures, you will now remember the list of ten items in
sequence, both forwards and backwards. Press ‘Try Me’ to test yourself on how
well you have memorised the ten items.
tried to see all those pictures, you will now remember the list of ten items in
sequence, both forwards and backwards. Press ‘Try Me’ to test yourself on how
well you have memorised the ten items.
The Link System -
Tutorial 2
Your second memory
training exercise again involves memorising a list of items in sequence, but
this time we’ll make the list more practical. Assume you wish to memorise the
following shopping list of fifteen items :
training exercise again involves memorising a list of items in sequence, but
this time we’ll make the list more practical. Assume you wish to memorise the
following shopping list of fifteen items :
Chicken, Melon,
Scouring Pads, Shredded Wheat, Milk, Baked Beans, Shampoo, Runner Beans, Meat
Pies, Car Polish, Evening Newspaper, French Loaf, Tea Bags, Soap, Eggs.
Scouring Pads, Shredded Wheat, Milk, Baked Beans, Shampoo, Runner Beans, Meat
Pies, Car Polish, Evening Newspaper, French Loaf, Tea Bags, Soap, Eggs.
Of course, it’s just
as easy to jot down your shopping list on a piece of paper as it is to try and
memorise it. But how many times have you reached the supermarket or shops only
to realise that you’ve left your list on the kitchen table, or in the pocket of
a coat which you decided not to wear after all ?
as easy to jot down your shopping list on a piece of paper as it is to try and
memorise it. But how many times have you reached the supermarket or shops only
to realise that you’ve left your list on the kitchen table, or in the pocket of
a coat which you decided not to wear after all ?
Any way, let’s assume
for the moment that you wish to memorise the list of items above. You are going
to memorise the list of items in sequence, using the Link System. Of course,
it;s not important to know a shopping list in sequence – you simply want to
remember all the items. But, if you don’t memorise the list in sequence, and
particularly if it’s a long list, how else will you be sure you’ve remembered
all the items ?
for the moment that you wish to memorise the list of items above. You are going
to memorise the list of items in sequence, using the Link System. Of course,
it;s not important to know a shopping list in sequence – you simply want to
remember all the items. But, if you don’t memorise the list in sequence, and
particularly if it’s a long list, how else will you be sure you’ve remembered
all the items ?
Actually, there is
another method of memorising all the items, using the Peg System, but we’ll
come to that later !
another method of memorising all the items, using the Peg System, but we’ll
come to that later !
O.K., let’s make a
start on memorising that shopping list. The first item is Chicken. Before
moving on to item two, consider for a moment how you can be sure that you will
remember the first item in any Link. After all, there is nothing to asssociate
it to. The answer is to associate it to the subject of your Link – in this case
the supermarket.
start on memorising that shopping list. The first item is Chicken. Before
moving on to item two, consider for a moment how you can be sure that you will
remember the first item in any Link. After all, there is nothing to asssociate
it to. The answer is to associate it to the subject of your Link – in this case
the supermarket.
For example, picture
yourself opening the supermarket door and millions of chickens flying out,
knocking you over. If you can picture that ridiculous image, or a similar
ludicrous picture, clearly in your mind for just an instant, then you will
remember that first item on your shopping list.
yourself opening the supermarket door and millions of chickens flying out,
knocking you over. If you can picture that ridiculous image, or a similar
ludicrous picture, clearly in your mind for just an instant, then you will
remember that first item on your shopping list.
An alternative method
of remembering the first item of any Link is to think of any item in the middle
of the Link, and work backwards through your associations. This must eventually
lead you to your first item.
of remembering the first item of any Link is to think of any item in the middle
of the Link, and work backwards through your associations. This must eventually
lead you to your first item.
For the moment, let’s
assume that you know the first item, chicken. The second item is melon. Now,
form a ridiculous association between chicken and melon. You might picture a
chicken trying to lay a huge melon insead of an egg, with a contorted
expression on its face. This is rather a crude picture, but one that is likely
to stay in your mind. See that image, or a similar zany association between
chicken and melon in your mind’s eye, right now.
assume that you know the first item, chicken. The second item is melon. Now,
form a ridiculous association between chicken and melon. You might picture a
chicken trying to lay a huge melon insead of an egg, with a contorted
expression on its face. This is rather a crude picture, but one that is likely
to stay in your mind. See that image, or a similar zany association between
chicken and melon in your mind’s eye, right now.
Remember that the
ludicrous associations suggested here are only suggestions. If you come up with
your own images then so much the better – you are increasing your Original
Awareness.
ludicrous associations suggested here are only suggestions. If you come up with
your own images then so much the better – you are increasing your Original
Awareness.
Now, continue with
your Link. The next item is scouring pads, so you might picture yourself trying
to clean some dishes with a massive melon instead of a scouring pad. Next comes
Shredded Wheat. To associate that item to the previous one, you could picture
yourself eating a bowl of scouring pads soaked in milk, instead of Shredded
Wheat.
your Link. The next item is scouring pads, so you might picture yourself trying
to clean some dishes with a massive melon instead of a scouring pad. Next comes
Shredded Wheat. To associate that item to the previous one, you could picture
yourself eating a bowl of scouring pads soaked in milk, instead of Shredded
Wheat.
The fifth item is
milk. You might picture yourself pouring from a milk bottle, but instead of
milk out come hundreds of Shredded Wheat. See each one of those Shredded Wheat
squeezing itself painfully out of the bottle, so that it bursts into a thousand
pieces when it finally squeezes through the neck of the bottle.
milk. You might picture yourself pouring from a milk bottle, but instead of
milk out come hundreds of Shredded Wheat. See each one of those Shredded Wheat
squeezing itself painfully out of the bottle, so that it bursts into a thousand
pieces when it finally squeezes through the neck of the bottle.
Next comes baked
beans. Imagine yourself piercing a can of beans with a tin opener, when gallons
of milk squirt out, soaking you from head to toe. The seventh item is shampoo.
Picture yourself pouring some shampoo over your head, but instead of shampoo,
tons of baked beans come squirting out of the bottle, until you are knee deep
in them.
beans. Imagine yourself piercing a can of beans with a tin opener, when gallons
of milk squirt out, soaking you from head to toe. The seventh item is shampoo.
Picture yourself pouring some shampoo over your head, but instead of shampoo,
tons of baked beans come squirting out of the bottle, until you are knee deep
in them.
The next item is runner
beans, so associate that item to shampoo. You could see yourself lathering your
hair with shampoo, when dozens of runner beans suddenly start sprouting out of
your hair. See that association, or one you thought of yourself, for just a
split second. Remember, you don’t have to see the picture for a long period of
time – you just need to see it clearly for a fraction of a second.
beans, so associate that item to shampoo. You could see yourself lathering your
hair with shampoo, when dozens of runner beans suddenly start sprouting out of
your hair. See that association, or one you thought of yourself, for just a
split second. Remember, you don’t have to see the picture for a long period of
time – you just need to see it clearly for a fraction of a second.
You are now just over
half way through forming your Link of fifteen items. Before continuing, just
pause and review the associations you have made so far. Look back over the
associations suggested up to this point, and consider how the five principles
of Out of Proportion, Substitution, Exaggeration, Movement, and Humour have
been used in the suggested images.
half way through forming your Link of fifteen items. Before continuing, just
pause and review the associations you have made so far. Look back over the
associations suggested up to this point, and consider how the five principles
of Out of Proportion, Substitution, Exaggeration, Movement, and Humour have
been used in the suggested images.
O.K., let’s continue
with the ninth item in the Link, meat pie. To form a ludicrous association with
runner beans, you might see yourself cutting into a meat pie with a knife and
fork. Suddenly a huge runner bean plant sprouts out of the middle of the pie,
so tall that it shoots right through the ceiling.
with the ninth item in the Link, meat pie. To form a ludicrous association with
runner beans, you might see yourself cutting into a meat pie with a knife and
fork. Suddenly a huge runner bean plant sprouts out of the middle of the pie,
so tall that it shoots right through the ceiling.
Next comes car polish.
See yourself trying to clean a car with a meat pie, instead of a tin of car
polish. Picture yourself dipping a cloth into that meat pie, and covering the
car with dripping gravy. See that image clearly.
See yourself trying to clean a car with a meat pie, instead of a tin of car
polish. Picture yourself dipping a cloth into that meat pie, and covering the
car with dripping gravy. See that image clearly.
The eleventh item is
evening newspaper. A zany association here might be – you open the evening
newspaper to the middle pages, and an arm holding a duster covered in car
polish zooms out of the newspaper and polishes your face, causing you to
splutter and cough.
evening newspaper. A zany association here might be – you open the evening
newspaper to the middle pages, and an arm holding a duster covered in car
polish zooms out of the newspaper and polishes your face, causing you to
splutter and cough.
Next, associate
evening newspaper to french loaf. For example, imagine yourself trying to make
sandwiches out of the evening newspaper, instead of the french loaf. Then comes
tea bags. A ridiculous picture here could be – you are trying to push a
gigantic french loaf into a teapot.
evening newspaper to french loaf. For example, imagine yourself trying to make
sandwiches out of the evening newspaper, instead of the french loaf. Then comes
tea bags. A ridiculous picture here could be – you are trying to push a
gigantic french loaf into a teapot.
The fourteenth item on
your shopping list is soap. See yourself perhaps washing your face with tea
bags, and getting into an awful mess. To complete your Link, associate soap to
eggs. You could picture yourself eating a bar of soap out of an egg cup for
breakfast, instead of a boiled egg. As you eat the soap out of the egg cup,
your mouth fills up with soap suds !
your shopping list is soap. See yourself perhaps washing your face with tea
bags, and getting into an awful mess. To complete your Link, associate soap to
eggs. You could picture yourself eating a bar of soap out of an egg cup for
breakfast, instead of a boiled egg. As you eat the soap out of the egg cup,
your mouth fills up with soap suds !
If you have really
seen all those crazy pictures in your mind’s eye, you will now know the
shoopping list in sequence, both forwards and backwards. As stated earlier,
there’s no reason why you would want to know the list in sequence, but it’s an
extremely useful exercise in practising the techniques of Association and
Linking.
seen all those crazy pictures in your mind’s eye, you will now know the
shoopping list in sequence, both forwards and backwards. As stated earlier,
there’s no reason why you would want to know the list in sequence, but it’s an
extremely useful exercise in practising the techniques of Association and
Linking.
Press ‘Try Me’ to test
yourself on how well you have memorised the fifteen items in the imaginary
shopping list.
yourself on how well you have memorised the fifteen items in the imaginary
shopping list.
Substitute
Words and Phrases – Tutorial 3
For your first
exercise in Association, let’s assume you want to memorise these ten everyday,
unrelated items, in sequence: banana, car, newspaper, sausage, pen, tree,
watch, tie, television, football. In order to do this, you are going to
consciously apply the basic memory rule defined in the Introduction, but with
an an important addition – You Can Remember Any New Information If You
Associate It To Something You Already Know In Some Ludicrous Way.
exercise in Association, let’s assume you want to memorise these ten everyday,
unrelated items, in sequence: banana, car, newspaper, sausage, pen, tree,
watch, tie, television, football. In order to do this, you are going to
consciously apply the basic memory rule defined in the Introduction, but with
an an important addition – You Can Remember Any New Information If You
Associate It To Something You Already Know In Some Ludicrous Way.
First, picture a
banana in your mind. You can’t apply the rule yet. But now we come to the next
item – car. If we assume that you already know banana, you can now apply the
memory rule. You simply need to create a ridiculous picture, or image, in your
mind’s eye – an association between banana and car.
banana in your mind. You can’t apply the rule yet. But now we come to the next
item – car. If we assume that you already know banana, you can now apply the
memory rule. You simply need to create a ridiculous picture, or image, in your
mind’s eye – an association between banana and car.
In order to do this
you need a ludicrous, far-fetched, crazy, illogical, absurd, – picture or image
to associate the two items. What you don’t want is a logical or sensible
picture. For example, a sensible picture might be – someone sitting in a car
eating a banana. Although this would not be something you would expect to see
every day, it is in not in any way bizarre or impossible.
you need a ludicrous, far-fetched, crazy, illogical, absurd, – picture or image
to associate the two items. What you don’t want is a logical or sensible
picture. For example, a sensible picture might be – someone sitting in a car
eating a banana. Although this would not be something you would expect to see
every day, it is in not in any way bizarre or impossible.
An impossible, crazy,
picture might be – a gigantic banana is driving a car along the motorway, or
you open a car door and billions of bananas tumble out and knock you over.
These are ludicrous, illogical pictures.
picture might be – a gigantic banana is driving a car along the motorway, or
you open a car door and billions of bananas tumble out and knock you over.
These are ludicrous, illogical pictures.
What you need to do is
select one of these pictures, or a crazy image you thought of yourself, and see
it your mind for just a fraction of a second. Be careful not to picture the
words banana and car. You need to see the action you’ve selected – the huge
banana driving the car, or the mountain of bananas tumbling out of a car, or
whichever image you’ve decided on. See that picture in your mind’s eye for just
an instant, right now.
select one of these pictures, or a crazy image you thought of yourself, and see
it your mind for just a fraction of a second. Be careful not to picture the
words banana and car. You need to see the action you’ve selected – the huge
banana driving the car, or the mountain of bananas tumbling out of a car, or
whichever image you’ve decided on. See that picture in your mind’s eye for just
an instant, right now.
The next item on your
list is newspaper. Assuming that you already remember car, you now need to form
a ridiculous association in your mind between car and newspaper. For example,
you open a newspaper and a car leaps out of the pages and knocks you over. Or
you are driving a huge rolled up newspaper instead of a car. Or you are driving
a car when a massive sheet of newspaper appears in front of you, which the car
rips as you drive through it. Choose one of these images, or one you conjured
up yourself, and picture it clearly for a split second.
list is newspaper. Assuming that you already remember car, you now need to form
a ridiculous association in your mind between car and newspaper. For example,
you open a newspaper and a car leaps out of the pages and knocks you over. Or
you are driving a huge rolled up newspaper instead of a car. Or you are driving
a car when a massive sheet of newspaper appears in front of you, which the car
rips as you drive through it. Choose one of these images, or one you conjured
up yourself, and picture it clearly for a split second.
Sausage is the next
item to remember, so you now need to form a ludicrous association between
newspaper and sausage. You could picture yourself eating rolled up newspapers
and eggs for breakfast instead of sausages and eggs, or you are reading a
gigantic sausage which has lots of news printed on it, or a paperboy is walking
along a street pushing very long sausages through letterboxes instead of
newspapers. See one of those crazy images.
item to remember, so you now need to form a ludicrous association between
newspaper and sausage. You could picture yourself eating rolled up newspapers
and eggs for breakfast instead of sausages and eggs, or you are reading a
gigantic sausage which has lots of news printed on it, or a paperboy is walking
along a street pushing very long sausages through letterboxes instead of
newspapers. See one of those crazy images.
Next on the list is
pen. Associate it to sausage. See yourself trying to write with a sausage
instead of a pen, or you cut into a sausage with a knife and fork and gallons
of ink shoot out of the sausage into your face. Picture one of these scenarios
clearly in your mind.
pen. Associate it to sausage. See yourself trying to write with a sausage
instead of a pen, or you cut into a sausage with a knife and fork and gallons
of ink shoot out of the sausage into your face. Picture one of these scenarios
clearly in your mind.
The next item is tree.
Picture millions of pens growing on a tree instead of leaves, or a colossal
fountain pen is growing in your garden instead of a tree. Be sure to see the
image clearly.
Picture millions of pens growing on a tree instead of leaves, or a colossal
fountain pen is growing in your garden instead of a tree. Be sure to see the
image clearly.
Watch is the next item
on the list. Picture a tree with lots of branches which are wearing giant
wristwatches, or you look at your watch and see that there is a tree growing
out of it, with roots curling up your arm. Select one of these images, or one
of your own, and see it for an instant in your mind’s eye.
on the list. Picture a tree with lots of branches which are wearing giant
wristwatches, or you look at your watch and see that there is a tree growing
out of it, with roots curling up your arm. Select one of these images, or one
of your own, and see it for an instant in your mind’s eye.
Tie comes next. See
yourself wearing an elongated wristwatch instead of a tie, or an enormously
long tie is tied around your wrist instead of a watch, so long that it drags
along the floor.
yourself wearing an elongated wristwatch instead of a tie, or an enormously
long tie is tied around your wrist instead of a watch, so long that it drags
along the floor.
The next item to be
remembered is television. You might picture yourself with a television hanging
around your neck instead of a tie, or you switch on the television and a vast,
horribly spotted tie bursts out of the screen, unrolling itself for yards and
yards. Select a crazy association between tie and television, and see the
picture in your mind.
remembered is television. You might picture yourself with a television hanging
around your neck instead of a tie, or you switch on the television and a vast,
horribly spotted tie bursts out of the screen, unrolling itself for yards and
yards. Select a crazy association between tie and television, and see the
picture in your mind.
The final item on the
list is football. See a football match where the players are kicking around a
television instead of a football. Or you are watching a football game on
television when millions of footballs suddenly burst throught the screen and
hit you in the face. Picture one of those images.
list is football. See a football match where the players are kicking around a
television instead of a football. Or you are watching a football game on
television when millions of footballs suddenly burst throught the screen and
hit you in the face. Picture one of those images.
If you have really
tried to see all those pictures, you will now remember the list of ten items in
sequence, both forwards and backwards. Press ‘Try Me’ to test yourself on how
well you have memorised the ten items.
tried to see all those pictures, you will now remember the list of ten items in
sequence, both forwards and backwards. Press ‘Try Me’ to test yourself on how
well you have memorised the ten items.
Picturing Names – Tutorial 4
Some names can be
easily pictured, because they have meanings. For example, the surnames Wood, Bell, Fox, Bush and Green
immediately create an image in your mind.
easily pictured, because they have meanings. For example, the surnames Wood, Bell, Fox, Bush and Green
immediately create an image in your mind.
But what about names
which have no meaning, such as Forbes, Harrison, or Pensford ? Using the
Substitute Word system which you learned in section C, any name can be
pictured.
which have no meaning, such as Forbes, Harrison, or Pensford ? Using the
Substitute Word system which you learned in section C, any name can be
pictured.
For Forbes, you might
picture four bees. To visualise the name Harrison
you could picture a hairy sun, and for Pensford – someone writing with a
gigantic pen all over a Ford car.
picture four bees. To visualise the name Harrison
you could picture a hairy sun, and for Pensford – someone writing with a
gigantic pen all over a Ford car.
The Substitute Word
System works beautifully for remembering names. Just applying the system will
force you to concentrate on the name – to be Initially Aware of it. And, no
matter how long or strange – sounding a name is, there is always a Substitute
Word or Phrase you can use to help you picture the name.
System works beautifully for remembering names. Just applying the system will
force you to concentrate on the name – to be Initially Aware of it. And, no
matter how long or strange – sounding a name is, there is always a Substitute
Word or Phrase you can use to help you picture the name.
For Rubenstein you
could picture someone vigorously rubbing a stein (of beer). For Polanski you
could use pole and ski, and picture someone holding a huge, striped barber’s
pole in his teeth while trying to ski. For Poppadopalis you might use poppadum
and police and a picture a policeman wrestling with a gigantic poppadum.
could picture someone vigorously rubbing a stein (of beer). For Polanski you
could use pole and ski, and picture someone holding a huge, striped barber’s
pole in his teeth while trying to ski. For Poppadopalis you might use poppadum
and police and a picture a policeman wrestling with a gigantic poppadum.
The Substitute words
and phrases you create can be anything, as long as they remind you of the name
you want to remember. For MacDonald, you could picture Donald Duck wearing a
kilt. Other people might prefer to picture Mac don old – an old don (professor)
wearing a mac (macintosh). Remember that the first Substitute Word you think of
is usually best for you to use.
and phrases you create can be anything, as long as they remind you of the name
you want to remember. For MacDonald, you could picture Donald Duck wearing a
kilt. Other people might prefer to picture Mac don old – an old don (professor)
wearing a mac (macintosh). Remember that the first Substitute Word you think of
is usually best for you to use.
For short names, you
can often use a Substitute Word which rhymes, or is similar – sounding. For the
name West, you might use Whist, or Vest, or Waist, or Waste. Any word (or
phrase) which can be pictured will do the job.
can often use a Substitute Word which rhymes, or is similar – sounding. For the
name West, you might use Whist, or Vest, or Waist, or Waste. Any word (or
phrase) which can be pictured will do the job.
Associating
Names and Faces – Tutorial 5
Having learned how to
picture any person’s name using Substitute Words and Phrases, the next step is
to associate that picture with the person’s face.
picture any person’s name using Substitute Words and Phrases, the next step is
to associate that picture with the person’s face.
First of all, you need
to look at the person’s face and select one outstanding feature, such as a high
forehead, large or small nose, spectacles, moustache, beard, narrow or wide-set
eyes, large or small ears, thin or thick lips, thin or bushy eyebrows, dimples,
freckles, warts – anything which is at all memorable.
to look at the person’s face and select one outstanding feature, such as a high
forehead, large or small nose, spectacles, moustache, beard, narrow or wide-set
eyes, large or small ears, thin or thick lips, thin or bushy eyebrows, dimples,
freckles, warts – anything which is at all memorable.
First impressions are,
more often than not, lasting impressions, and whatever seems outstanding to you
now will usualy still seem outstanding when you next meet that person. What’s
more important is that by looking closely at a face, you are concentrating on
it, and etching the details on your memory.
more often than not, lasting impressions, and whatever seems outstanding to you
now will usualy still seem outstanding when you next meet that person. What’s
more important is that by looking closely at a face, you are concentrating on
it, and etching the details on your memory.
Having decided on the outstanding feature of a person’s face, you then
simply associate the Substitute Word or Phrase you’ve invented for that
person’s name. If you make a strong enough association, it will be almost like
having the person’s name written on his or her face !
simply associate the Substitute Word or Phrase you’ve invented for that
person’s name. If you make a strong enough association, it will be almost like
having the person’s name written on his or her face !
For example, suppose you’ve just met Mr Ball, and want to be sure that you
remember his name. The name Ball might suggest to you a football, or a rugby
ball, or perhaps a golf ball. Let’s also suppose you have decided that the
outstanding feature of his face is his red, curly hair. Now, you look at that
hair and picture millions of golf balls springing out of it, and bouncing
around everywhere. Or, picture a football with Mr Ball’s red curly hair growing
out of it – the football is on his shoulders in place of his head.
remember his name. The name Ball might suggest to you a football, or a rugby
ball, or perhaps a golf ball. Let’s also suppose you have decided that the
outstanding feature of his face is his red, curly hair. Now, you look at that
hair and picture millions of golf balls springing out of it, and bouncing
around everywhere. Or, picture a football with Mr Ball’s red curly hair growing
out of it – the football is on his shoulders in place of his head.
Remember the rules of
association, and make your mental picture as ludicrous and exaggerated as
possible. If you really see that image clearly in your mind’s eye, you will
know Mr. Ball’s name the next time you meet him.
association, and make your mental picture as ludicrous and exaggerated as
possible. If you really see that image clearly in your mind’s eye, you will
know Mr. Ball’s name the next time you meet him.
Imagine next you meet
a Mr Carrington, who has large ears. Use the Substitute Phrase Carry Ton to
help you picture the name, and associate that picture to those unusually large
ears. Imagine him carrying a ton weight on his head. His head is being
flattened by the weight, pushing his ears out at right angles to his head. This
image is the sort of picture you might see in a ‘Tom and Jerry’ cartoon, and in
fact the ridiculous pictures you see in children’s cartoons are exactly the
sort of zany images you need to create to make the pictures memorable.
a Mr Carrington, who has large ears. Use the Substitute Phrase Carry Ton to
help you picture the name, and associate that picture to those unusually large
ears. Imagine him carrying a ton weight on his head. His head is being
flattened by the weight, pushing his ears out at right angles to his head. This
image is the sort of picture you might see in a ‘Tom and Jerry’ cartoon, and in
fact the ridiculous pictures you see in children’s cartoons are exactly the
sort of zany images you need to create to make the pictures memorable.
Although these
pictures take a little while to describe in text, they can actually be pictured
in your mind in a fraction of a second. Many ‘Memory Man’ stage performers
throughout the world use this system to remember the names of five hundred or
more people in an audience, after hearing the names just once ! This is an
extremely impressive stunt when seen on television or in a theatre, but is
actually based solely on the simple system described above.
pictures take a little while to describe in text, they can actually be pictured
in your mind in a fraction of a second. Many ‘Memory Man’ stage performers
throughout the world use this system to remember the names of five hundred or
more people in an audience, after hearing the names just once ! This is an
extremely impressive stunt when seen on television or in a theatre, but is
actually based solely on the simple system described above.
Of course, you will
need some practice before you can memorise five hundred names in quick
succession, but you can benefit from the system after a very small amount of
practice.
need some practice before you can memorise five hundred names in quick
succession, but you can benefit from the system after a very small amount of
practice.
Try it now, with ten
example names. For the moment, as you’re trying it without real people or
faces, just see the features themselves, and the (ludicrous) associations.
example names. For the moment, as you’re trying it without real people or
faces, just see the features themselves, and the (ludicrous) associations.
First on the list is
Mrs Lambert, who has a long, pointed nose. You might use lamb butt to help you
picture the name Lambert. Picture a lamb jumping up and butting that long
pointed nose. Not a pleasant picture, but you’re sure to remember it.
Mrs Lambert, who has a long, pointed nose. You might use lamb butt to help you
picture the name Lambert. Picture a lamb jumping up and butting that long
pointed nose. Not a pleasant picture, but you’re sure to remember it.
Next is Mr Biggs, who
has a bushy beard. Picture millions of big letter ‘S’s dropping out of the
bushy beard onto the floor, or see that beard gradually uncurling into a big
‘S’ shape. Choose one of those pictures, or one of your own, and reallly see
that image in your mind’s eye.
has a bushy beard. Picture millions of big letter ‘S’s dropping out of the
bushy beard onto the floor, or see that beard gradually uncurling into a big
‘S’ shape. Choose one of those pictures, or one of your own, and reallly see
that image in your mind’s eye.
Third on the list is
Miss Fortescue, who has silver-white hair tied up in a bun. You might see a Fort Askew
(lopsided) on top of that bun of white hair. Remember, the crazier the picure
the better.
Miss Fortescue, who has silver-white hair tied up in a bun. You might see a Fort Askew
(lopsided) on top of that bun of white hair. Remember, the crazier the picure
the better.
Fourth comes Mr
Whitelaw, who has a noticeable gap in his front teeth. Associate Whitelaw
(perhaps white law – a policeman covered from head to toe in white paint) to
that gap in his teeth. You could picture a policeman covered in white paint
trying to crawl out of Mr. Whitelaw’s mouth through the gap in his front teeth.
A ridiculous, illogical picture which is sure to remind you of the outstanding
feature of Mr Whitelaw’s face.
Whitelaw, who has a noticeable gap in his front teeth. Associate Whitelaw
(perhaps white law – a policeman covered from head to toe in white paint) to
that gap in his teeth. You could picture a policeman covered in white paint
trying to crawl out of Mr. Whitelaw’s mouth through the gap in his front teeth.
A ridiculous, illogical picture which is sure to remind you of the outstanding
feature of Mr Whitelaw’s face.
Next on the list is Mr
Pontin, who has a high forehead. Picture that high forehead and see a hand,
with one finger outstretched, shooting out of the forehead and pointing at you.
Make you you see the picture clearly, just for a split second. Miss Webb comes
next, and she has very long blond hair, right down to her waist. Picture that
hair covered in masses of cobwebs, with spiders crawling all over it.
Pontin, who has a high forehead. Picture that high forehead and see a hand,
with one finger outstretched, shooting out of the forehead and pointing at you.
Make you you see the picture clearly, just for a split second. Miss Webb comes
next, and she has very long blond hair, right down to her waist. Picture that
hair covered in masses of cobwebs, with spiders crawling all over it.
Seventh on our list of
fictitious people is Mr Cleese, who has very bushy eyebrows. A good Substitute
Word to help you picture Cleese might be cheese. Picture those bushy eyebrows
covered in cheese, which is melting, and dripping everywhere.
fictitious people is Mr Cleese, who has very bushy eyebrows. A good Substitute
Word to help you picture Cleese might be cheese. Picture those bushy eyebrows
covered in cheese, which is melting, and dripping everywhere.
Next we have Mrs
Green, who has a mole on her right cheek. Picture that mole gradually turning
green. It gets greener and greener, until it is really bright and luminous.
Green, who has a mole on her right cheek. Picture that mole gradually turning
green. It gets greener and greener, until it is really bright and luminous.
Ninth on the list is
Mr Hetherington, who has long ginger sideburns. You might use heather in ton to
help you picture this surname. Visualise tons of heather suddenly sprouting out
of those sideburns, until it covers his face.
Mr Hetherington, who has long ginger sideburns. You might use heather in ton to
help you picture this surname. Visualise tons of heather suddenly sprouting out
of those sideburns, until it covers his face.
Finally comes Mr
Price, whose outstanding facial feature is a large dimple in his chin. Picture
that dimple with millions of price tags stuck to it. If you prefer to use a
crazy picture of your own, then you will probably remember it even more
clearly.
Price, whose outstanding facial feature is a large dimple in his chin. Picture
that dimple with millions of price tags stuck to it. If you prefer to use a
crazy picture of your own, then you will probably remember it even more
clearly.
Memorising Foreing
Words – Tutorial 6
For your first
exercise in applying the Substitute Word system to remembering foreign
vocabulary, you are going to memorise the following Spanish words and their
English translations :
exercise in applying the Substitute Word system to remembering foreign
vocabulary, you are going to memorise the following Spanish words and their
English translations :
Spanish Pronounciation English
------- -------------- -------
marido (mah-ree-dhoa) husband
corbata (kor-bah-tah) tie
barca (bahr-kah) boat
lago (lah-goa) lake
helado (ay-lah-dhoa) ice cream
pluma (ploo-mah) pen
carpeta (kahr-pay-tah) file
bata (bah-tah) dressing gown
resaca (ray-ssah-kah) hangover
maleta (mah-lay-tah) suitcase
Let’s
begin with marido, pronounced mah-ree-dhoa, which means husband. Picture a
husband – a bridegroom – marrying a door. See the bridegroom perhaps standing
at the aisle next to a front door, which is dressed in a wedding gown and veil.
begin with marido, pronounced mah-ree-dhoa, which means husband. Picture a
husband – a bridegroom – marrying a door. See the bridegroom perhaps standing
at the aisle next to a front door, which is dressed in a wedding gown and veil.
Corbata,
pronounced kor-bah-tah, is Spanish for tie. A good Substitute Word might be
Core Batter – an apple core batting in a cricket match. Picture that apple core
taking guard at the wicket on a cricket field – it is wearing a huge, horribly
spotted tie.
pronounced kor-bah-tah, is Spanish for tie. A good Substitute Word might be
Core Batter – an apple core batting in a cricket match. Picture that apple core
taking guard at the wicket on a cricket field – it is wearing a huge, horribly
spotted tie.
As
with all the Memory Master systems, if you prefer to use your own silly
pictures rather than the ones suggested here, then so much the better. Remember
that suggesting the pictures to you does take away some of your Initial
Awareness.
with all the Memory Master systems, if you prefer to use your own silly
pictures rather than the ones suggested here, then so much the better. Remember
that suggesting the pictures to you does take away some of your Initial
Awareness.
The
next word is barca, pronounced bahr-kah, which means boat. Picture a boat which
is barking – see the hull of the boat opening and shutting, like a dog’s mouth,
as it cruises down a river.
next word is barca, pronounced bahr-kah, which means boat. Picture a boat which
is barking – see the hull of the boat opening and shutting, like a dog’s mouth,
as it cruises down a river.
The
Spanish word for lake is lago, pronounced lah-goa. See yourself swimming in a
lake of lager. As you swim, you swallow some of the lake (lager), and begin
hiccoughing comically. The fifth word to memorise is helado, which means ice
cream. It is pronounced ay-lah-dhoa. For helado you could use the Substitute
Phrase hail-a-door, which you then associate to ice cream. Perhaps you are
standing at a taxi rank eating a monstrous ice cream, when some doors drive
past instead of taxis. You hail a door instead of hailing a taxi.
Spanish word for lake is lago, pronounced lah-goa. See yourself swimming in a
lake of lager. As you swim, you swallow some of the lake (lager), and begin
hiccoughing comically. The fifth word to memorise is helado, which means ice
cream. It is pronounced ay-lah-dhoa. For helado you could use the Substitute
Phrase hail-a-door, which you then associate to ice cream. Perhaps you are
standing at a taxi rank eating a monstrous ice cream, when some doors drive
past instead of taxis. You hail a door instead of hailing a taxi.
Next
comes pluma (ploo-mah), the Spanish for pen. Picture yourself writing with a
huge plume (a feather) instead of a pen. To make the image humorous, you could
perhaps see the plume tickling your nose and making you sneeze as you try to
write.
comes pluma (ploo-mah), the Spanish for pen. Picture yourself writing with a
huge plume (a feather) instead of a pen. To make the image humorous, you could
perhaps see the plume tickling your nose and making you sneeze as you try to
write.
Carpeta
(kahr-pay-tah) is next, which means file. This is an easy one – see yourself
walking on a carpet of files.
(kahr-pay-tah) is next, which means file. This is an easy one – see yourself
walking on a carpet of files.
The
Spanish word for dressing gown is bata (bah-tah). See yourself wearing a dressing
gown – the pockets are full of batter, which overflows disgustingly onto the
carpet as you put your hand into the pockets.
Spanish word for dressing gown is bata (bah-tah). See yourself wearing a dressing
gown – the pockets are full of batter, which overflows disgustingly onto the
carpet as you put your hand into the pockets.
Next
comes the Spanish for hangover – resaca (ray-ssah-cah). Picture yourself with a
terrible, blinding hangover, after consuming too much sangria. To make matters
worse, you are lying under a car, which is almost flattening you. In order to
escape, you have to raise-a-car.
comes the Spanish for hangover – resaca (ray-ssah-cah). Picture yourself with a
terrible, blinding hangover, after consuming too much sangria. To make matters
worse, you are lying under a car, which is almost flattening you. In order to
escape, you have to raise-a-car.
The
final Spanish word to memorise is maleta, pronounced mah-lay-tah. A possible
Substitute Phrase here would be ma-lay-tar – an elderly woman – ma – who is
laying tar. You then need to associate that phrase to suitcase. You could
perhaps picture ma laying the tar by pouring it out of your suitcase.
final Spanish word to memorise is maleta, pronounced mah-lay-tah. A possible
Substitute Phrase here would be ma-lay-tar – an elderly woman – ma – who is
laying tar. You then need to associate that phrase to suitcase. You could
perhaps picture ma laying the tar by pouring it out of your suitcase.
In
all the above examples, the Substitute Words and Phrases suggested have been
based on the pronounciations of the Spanish words rather than the actual
spelling. Remember that if you were seriously trying to learn a specific
foreign language you would be aware of the basic sounds and letters of that
language.
all the above examples, the Substitute Words and Phrases suggested have been
based on the pronounciations of the Spanish words rather than the actual
spelling. Remember that if you were seriously trying to learn a specific
foreign language you would be aware of the basic sounds and letters of that
language.
If
you read through the preceding text without really concentrating on seeing the
suggested pictures,or pictures you thought of yourself, then go back and do it
right now. Once you have really tried to visualise the ludicrous pictures, you
will know all ten Spanish words and their English equivalents.
you read through the preceding text without really concentrating on seeing the
suggested pictures,or pictures you thought of yourself, then go back and do it
right now. Once you have really tried to visualise the ludicrous pictures, you
will know all ten Spanish words and their English equivalents.
Press
Page Down when you are ready to test yourself on the ten Spanish words and
their English translations.
Page Down when you are ready to test yourself on the ten Spanish words and
their English translations.
Memorising Foreign
Phrases – Tutorial 7
You’ve now had some
practice at memorising foreign words using the Substitute Word system. The
system is equally applicable to foreign phrases – after all, phrases are simply
groups of words.
practice at memorising foreign words using the Substitute Word system. The
system is equally applicable to foreign phrases – after all, phrases are simply
groups of words.
The French phrase
‘quelle heure est-il’ means ‘what time is it’. Picture Associate ‘kill hare at
heel’ to ‘what time is it’ and you will have memorised the phrase. You might
picture yourself asking a French man the time – as you ask him the question, he
is trying to kill a hare at his heel, which is biting him.
‘quelle heure est-il’ means ‘what time is it’. Picture Associate ‘kill hare at
heel’ to ‘what time is it’ and you will have memorised the phrase. You might
picture yourself asking a French man the time – as you ask him the question, he
is trying to kill a hare at his heel, which is biting him.
Not a pleasant picture
- but, as mentioned as before, the more vivid the picture, the more likely it
is to stick in your mind.
- but, as mentioned as before, the more vivid the picture, the more likely it
is to stick in your mind.
The French phrase for
‘how much’ is ‘combien’. A possible Substitute Phrase to use here might be comb
bean. Picture yourself asking a shopkeeper how much a particular item is – as
you ask them the question, you are combing a bean. Make the image as
exaggerated and silly as you can. If you picture that ridiculous image clearly
in your mind’s eye for literally just an instant then you will have remembered
that phrase. Many people, when visiting a foreign country, go armed with a
phrase book which gives dozens of useful phrases in that country’s language.
This is fine, but when you arrive in the country you often find yourself
frantically searching through the book for the right phrase whenever you need
to make yourself understood. Unfortunately, the phrase books never give you any
hints on how to remember all those really useful phrases in the book.
‘how much’ is ‘combien’. A possible Substitute Phrase to use here might be comb
bean. Picture yourself asking a shopkeeper how much a particular item is – as
you ask them the question, you are combing a bean. Make the image as
exaggerated and silly as you can. If you picture that ridiculous image clearly
in your mind’s eye for literally just an instant then you will have remembered
that phrase. Many people, when visiting a foreign country, go armed with a
phrase book which gives dozens of useful phrases in that country’s language.
This is fine, but when you arrive in the country you often find yourself
frantically searching through the book for the right phrase whenever you need
to make yourself understood. Unfortunately, the phrase books never give you any
hints on how to remember all those really useful phrases in the book.
However, a few hours
spent applying the Substitute Word system to memorising the most useful phrases
in the book could help you enormously in making yourself understood. Those few
hours could even be spent on your journey – on an aeroplane, or boat, or bus,
or whatever.
spent applying the Substitute Word system to memorising the most useful phrases
in the book could help you enormously in making yourself understood. Those few
hours could even be spent on your journey – on an aeroplane, or boat, or bus,
or whatever.
Of course, it will
take a little more time to apply the Substitute Word system to a phrase than to
a single word. But, once you can picture that ridiculous picture clearly in
your mind, you will have memorised the phrase. And, bear in mind how difficult
it is for most people to memorise phrase from a book without a system -
repeating the phrase over and over, hoping that they will ‘stick’ in the
memory. Try the Substitute Word system on the following French phrases :
take a little more time to apply the Substitute Word system to a phrase than to
a single word. But, once you can picture that ridiculous picture clearly in
your mind, you will have memorised the phrase. And, bear in mind how difficult
it is for most people to memorise phrase from a book without a system -
repeating the phrase over and over, hoping that they will ‘stick’ in the
memory. Try the Substitute Word system on the following French phrases :
French Pronounciation English
------ -------------- -------
quelle heure est-il kehl uhr eh-teel what time is it
combien kohng-byang how much
le voici luh vwah-see' here it is
faites-le plein feht luh plang fill the tank
qui-est-il kee-eh-teel who is he
je desire zhuh day-zeer I want
comment allez-vous koh-mahn'tah-lay-voo how do you do
quelle ville est-ce kehl veel ehs what town is this
ou est le quai oo ay'luh kay where is the platform
il faut que je parte eel foh'kuh zhuh pahrt' I have to leave
You
have already been given Substitute Phrases for the first two examples. Try and
form your own Substitute Words or Phrases for the remaining phrases – remember
that giving you suggestions for the phrases removes much of your Initial
Awareness and concentration. You are much better off inventing your own
Substitute Phrases and crazy mental images. Press Page Down when you are ready
to test yourself on the above phrases.
have already been given Substitute Phrases for the first two examples. Try and
form your own Substitute Words or Phrases for the remaining phrases – remember
that giving you suggestions for the phrases removes much of your Initial
Awareness and concentration. You are much better off inventing your own
Substitute Phrases and crazy mental images. Press Page Down when you are ready
to test yourself on the above phrases.
The Phonetic Alphabet
- Tutorial 8
The Phonetic Alphabet
is based on the simple concept that there are ten digits in our numerical
system, and also ten basic consonant phonetic sounds.
is based on the simple concept that there are ten digits in our numerical
system, and also ten basic consonant phonetic sounds.
For example, think of
the letters ‘p’ and ‘b’. When you pronounce the letter ‘p’ your lips and tongue
are in the same position as when you say the letter ‘b’. For the purposes of
the Phonetic Alphabet, these letters can be classified as one phonetic sound.
the letters ‘p’ and ‘b’. When you pronounce the letter ‘p’ your lips and tongue
are in the same position as when you say the letter ‘b’. For the purposes of
the Phonetic Alphabet, these letters can be classified as one phonetic sound.
Similarly, think of
the letter ‘m’. When you pronounce ‘m’ you have your lips together, as if you
are going to hum a tune. No other letter in the alphabet requires your lips,
tongue, and teeth to be in that position for pronounciation, so the letter ‘m’
can be classified as a phonetic sound on its own.
the letter ‘m’. When you pronounce ‘m’ you have your lips together, as if you
are going to hum a tune. No other letter in the alphabet requires your lips,
tongue, and teeth to be in that position for pronounciation, so the letter ‘m’
can be classified as a phonetic sound on its own.
There are ten groups
of basic phonetic sounds, and each group is paired against one of the ten
digits 1,2,3,4,5,6,7,8,9,0. The following table illustrates the groupings,
together with some simple memory aids to help you remember them.
of basic phonetic sounds, and each group is paired against one of the ten
digits 1,2,3,4,5,6,7,8,9,0. The following table illustrates the groupings,
together with some simple memory aids to help you remember them.
1 = t or d
(the letter t has one downstroke)
2 = n
(the letter n has two downstrokes)
3 = m
(the letter m has three downstrokes)
4 = r
(the word 'four' ends in the letter r)
5 = l
(the Roman numeral for 50 is l)
6 = j,sh,ch,or soft g
(j is almost like a 6 the other way round)
7 = k,hard c or hard g
(the letter k contains two 7's, back to back)
8 = f,v,ph
(a handwritten 'f' and 8 both have two loops)
9 = p,b
(the letter p is the mirror image of 9)
0 = s, z, or soft c
(the word 'zero' begins with the letter z)
Vowels
have no value in the phonetic alphabet and are disregarded, as are all the
consonants not listed. They are used simply as ‘fillers’ when transposing
numbers to words. For example, the number 32 translates to the letters ‘m’ and
‘n’. Using the filler vowel ‘a’ gives us the word ‘man’, which immediately
transposes back to the number 32. Study the above table carefully, right now,
and memorise the rules. When you think you know the rules, press Page Down to
test yourself on how thoroughly you have learned them.
have no value in the phonetic alphabet and are disregarded, as are all the
consonants not listed. They are used simply as ‘fillers’ when transposing
numbers to words. For example, the number 32 translates to the letters ‘m’ and
‘n’. Using the filler vowel ‘a’ gives us the word ‘man’, which immediately
transposes back to the number 32. Study the above table carefully, right now,
and memorise the rules. When you think you know the rules, press Page Down to
test yourself on how thoroughly you have learned them.
Transposing
Numbers to Words and Phrases – Tutorial 9
Numbers to Words and Phrases – Tutorial 9
Having learned how to
translate digits into letters, the next step is learning how to transpose
numbers into words and phrases. Once you have transposed a number into a word
or phrase, it can easily be memorised using the principle of Association of
Ideas.
translate digits into letters, the next step is learning how to transpose
numbers into words and phrases. Once you have transposed a number into a word
or phrase, it can easily be memorised using the principle of Association of
Ideas.
For example, take the
number 9520. Let’s imagine that it is your P.I.N. (Personal Identification
Number) for a Cash Point card which you have been issued by your bank or
building society. You need to remember the number but, for obvious security
reasons, you don’t wish to keep a written record of it.
number 9520. Let’s imagine that it is your P.I.N. (Personal Identification
Number) for a Cash Point card which you have been issued by your bank or
building society. You need to remember the number but, for obvious security
reasons, you don’t wish to keep a written record of it.
In order to transpose
9520 into a word, you simply transpose the digits to letters one by one, then
join those consonant sounds together using any suitable vowels. The consonant
phonetic sounds in the number 9520 translate as follows :
9520 into a word, you simply transpose the digits to letters one by one, then
join those consonant sounds together using any suitable vowels. The consonant
phonetic sounds in the number 9520 translate as follows :
9 transposes to p or b
5 transposes to l
2 transposes to n
0 transposes to s, z, or soft c
This gives us several possible words
which can be formed from these letters,
using any 'filler' vowels you choose.
Some examples are :
balloons (b-a-ll-oo-n-s)
9 5 2 0
(double letters count as one sound
except where they make two sounds)
pylons (p-y-l-o-n-s)
9 5 2 0
balance (b-a-l-a-n-ce)
9 5 2 0
To
remember the number 9520, you simply choose one of these words, and memorise
it. Let’s say you choose ballons. Once you have memorised it, the word
‘balloons’ must lead you back to the number 9520 – simply remove the vowels and
transpose the consonant sounds one at a time.
remember the number 9520, you simply choose one of these words, and memorise
it. Let’s say you choose ballons. Once you have memorised it, the word
‘balloons’ must lead you back to the number 9520 – simply remove the vowels and
transpose the consonant sounds one at a time.
But
how do you connect the word ‘balloons’ to your PIN number ? Easy – you simply
form a mental association between balloons and your Cash Point card, or between
ballons and the cash dispensing machine. For example, picture yourself
inserting your card into a cash dispensing machine, and billions of balloons
fly out of the machine and hit you in the face. Once you have made that
ludicrous association you will not forget it – and once you remember ‘balloons’
it must lead you back to your PIN number – 9520. If you have a Cash Point card,
or any type of card with a P.I.N, try it now, with your own number. Form a word
from the number, then associate it to your card or cash dispensing machine.
Remember to make the association as ridiculous as possible. Do that right now,
before reading any further.
how do you connect the word ‘balloons’ to your PIN number ? Easy – you simply
form a mental association between balloons and your Cash Point card, or between
ballons and the cash dispensing machine. For example, picture yourself
inserting your card into a cash dispensing machine, and billions of balloons
fly out of the machine and hit you in the face. Once you have made that
ludicrous association you will not forget it – and once you remember ‘balloons’
it must lead you back to your PIN number – 9520. If you have a Cash Point card,
or any type of card with a P.I.N, try it now, with your own number. Form a word
from the number, then associate it to your card or cash dispensing machine.
Remember to make the association as ridiculous as possible. Do that right now,
before reading any further.
Let’s
take another example, this time a telephone number. Imagine you have a friend
called Fred, and that you are constantly forgetting his telephone number, which
is 941680. This number is a bit too long to easily transpose into one word, so
we need two words, or a phrase.
take another example, this time a telephone number. Imagine you have a friend
called Fred, and that you are constantly forgetting his telephone number, which
is 941680. This number is a bit too long to easily transpose into one word, so
we need two words, or a phrase.
Some
examples of words which can be formed from 941680 are :
examples of words which can be formed from 941680 are :
parrot jives (p-a-rr-o-t j-i-v-e-s)
9 4 1 6 8 0
bread shoves (b-r-ea-d sh-o-v-e-s)
9 4 1 6 8 0
pirate shaves (p-i-r-a-t-e sh-a-v-e-s)
9 4 1 6 8 0
To
remember Fred’s telephone, simply associate one of these to a picture of Fred
using the telephone. For example, Fred is talking on the telephone while a
parrot jives on top of his head. Or Fred is talking on the telephone and he has
a huge pile of bread which he shoves down the telephone receiver as he speaks
into it. Whenever you think of Fred using the telephone you would then be
reminded of, say , ‘parrot jives’ , which must lead you back to his telephone
number – 941680.
remember Fred’s telephone, simply associate one of these to a picture of Fred
using the telephone. For example, Fred is talking on the telephone while a
parrot jives on top of his head. Or Fred is talking on the telephone and he has
a huge pile of bread which he shoves down the telephone receiver as he speaks
into it. Whenever you think of Fred using the telephone you would then be
reminded of, say , ‘parrot jives’ , which must lead you back to his telephone
number – 941680.
Before
proceeding, try the system now, with the telephone numbers of three or four of
your friends.
proceeding, try the system now, with the telephone numbers of three or four of
your friends.
There
are two main pitfalls to avoid when learning how to apply the Phonetic Alphabet
- transposing according to letter rather than sounds, and counting a double
letter as two sounds instead of one. Always remember that it is the sounds that
count, not the actual spelling.
are two main pitfalls to avoid when learning how to apply the Phonetic Alphabet
- transposing according to letter rather than sounds, and counting a double
letter as two sounds instead of one. Always remember that it is the sounds that
count, not the actual spelling.
For
example, the letter s in the word television transposes to 6, not zero – the
‘s’ makes a soft ‘sh’ sound. Similarly, the letter ‘t’ in the word audition
transposes to 6, not 1.
example, the letter s in the word television transposes to 6, not zero – the
‘s’ makes a soft ‘sh’ sound. Similarly, the letter ‘t’ in the word audition
transposes to 6, not 1.
The
double letter ‘t’ in the word ‘matter’ transposes to 1, not 11. However, a
double letter can sometimes make two sounds, in which case both sounds count.
For example the double ‘c’ in the word ‘accident’ would transpose to 70,
because the sound produced is ‘ks’, as in ‘axe’.
double letter ‘t’ in the word ‘matter’ transposes to 1, not 11. However, a
double letter can sometimes make two sounds, in which case both sounds count.
For example the double ‘c’ in the word ‘accident’ would transpose to 70,
because the sound produced is ‘ks’, as in ‘axe’.
Finally,
note that silent letters do not count phonetically, because they make no sound.
So the word ‘knight’ would transpose to 21, not 721 – the silent ‘k’ is not
counted.
note that silent letters do not count phonetically, because they make no sound.
So the word ‘knight’ would transpose to 21, not 721 – the silent ‘k’ is not
counted.
In
Tutorial 10 you will be shown how to transpose long numbers into several words
and then link those words together using the Link memory system.
Tutorial 10 you will be shown how to transpose long numbers into several words
and then link those words together using the Link memory system.
But
first you will need some practice at transposing words to numbers. Press Page
Down to test yourself.
first you will need some practice at transposing words to numbers. Press Page
Down to test yourself.
Remembering Very Long Numbers – Tutorial 10
Having worked through
Tutorials 8 and 9, you should now feel confident with transposing any number
into a word or phrase. By combining this knowledge with the Link System which
you have already learned, you can easily memorise numbers with 15, 20, 50 or
even 100 digits.
Tutorials 8 and 9, you should now feel confident with transposing any number
into a word or phrase. By combining this knowledge with the Link System which
you have already learned, you can easily memorise numbers with 15, 20, 50 or
even 100 digits.
Of course, it’s
unlikely that you’ll ever need to remember a number with 15 or more digits. But
it’s an impressive memory feat, and anyone who can easily remember, say,
174120526400647 is unlikely to forget a telephone number or a bank account
number.
unlikely that you’ll ever need to remember a number with 15 or more digits. But
it’s an impressive memory feat, and anyone who can easily remember, say,
174120526400647 is unlikely to forget a telephone number or a bank account
number.
Let’s take that number
174120526400647. In order to memorise it there are three steps involved :
174120526400647. In order to memorise it there are three steps involved :
- Divide the number up into several smaller groups of
digits - Transpose each group of digits into a word or phrase
- Apply the Link System to each of those words or
phrases
For example,
174120526400647 could conveniently be divided into 5 groups of 3 digits – 174
120 526 400 647. Next we need to transpose each of those groups into a word or
phrase.
174120526400647 could conveniently be divided into 5 groups of 3 digits – 174
120 526 400 647. Next we need to transpose each of those groups into a word or
phrase.
Take the first group,
174. There are several words which would fit these digits – tiger, dagger,
digger, ticker, docker are a few examples. When you are trying to transpose
digits into words for yourself, the first one you think of is usually best for
you.
174. There are several words which would fit these digits – tiger, dagger,
digger, ticker, docker are a few examples. When you are trying to transpose
digits into words for yourself, the first one you think of is usually best for
you.
Now move on to the
next three digits. What fits 120 phonetically ? tennis, tons, tens, dons,
dennis… – try to think of some yourself.
next three digits. What fits 120 phonetically ? tennis, tons, tens, dons,
dennis… – try to think of some yourself.
Having decided on
words for the first two groups, you can start forming a link. Let’s say you
choose tiger and dennis. Now make a ludicrous association between the two – for
example, picture a tiger playing tennis in the Wimbledon
final. Be sure to see that picture clearly in your mind’s eye.
words for the first two groups, you can start forming a link. Let’s say you
choose tiger and dennis. Now make a ludicrous association between the two – for
example, picture a tiger playing tennis in the Wimbledon
final. Be sure to see that picture clearly in your mind’s eye.
The next group is 526.
Lunch, launch, lunge, lounge would all fit phonetically. Now continue the Link
- visualise yourself trying to eat your lunch with a tennis racket, or make up
a ridiculous picture of your own.
Lunch, launch, lunge, lounge would all fit phonetically. Now continue the Link
- visualise yourself trying to eat your lunch with a tennis racket, or make up
a ridiculous picture of your own.
Next comes 400. Roses,
raises, rouses or ruses would fit this group. Associate lunch to roses -
picture yourself eating lunch, when dozens of roses on long green stems
suddenly begin growing out of the table. Finally, think of a word to fit 647.
Shark, jerk, or shirk would do the job. Now complete your link by associating
roses to shark – see a shark trying to swim through a bed of roses instead of
in the sea, or any other bizarre picture which comes to mind.
raises, rouses or ruses would fit this group. Associate lunch to roses -
picture yourself eating lunch, when dozens of roses on long green stems
suddenly begin growing out of the table. Finally, think of a word to fit 647.
Shark, jerk, or shirk would do the job. Now complete your link by associating
roses to shark – see a shark trying to swim through a bed of roses instead of
in the sea, or any other bizarre picture which comes to mind.
You now have a short
Link of 5 words. Go over that link in your mind right now. Tiger is associated
to … tennis, which reminds you of … lunch, which is associated to …
roses, which reminds you of shark.
Link of 5 words. Go over that link in your mind right now. Tiger is associated
to … tennis, which reminds you of … lunch, which is associated to …
roses, which reminds you of shark.
If you know that
simple Link, then you also know 174120526400647. Just think of each word in the
Link, and transpose it back to digits. The word ‘tiger’ MUST transpose to 174 -
if you apply the rules of the Phonetic Alphabet, there can be no ambiguity in
transposing words back to digits.
simple Link, then you also know 174120526400647. Just think of each word in the
Link, and transpose it back to digits. The word ‘tiger’ MUST transpose to 174 -
if you apply the rules of the Phonetic Alphabet, there can be no ambiguity in
transposing words back to digits.
Similarly, ‘tennis,
MUST break down to 120, ‘lunch’ must give us 526, ‘roses’ can only be 400, and
‘shark’ must transpose to 647.
MUST break down to 120, ‘lunch’ must give us 526, ‘roses’ can only be 400, and
‘shark’ must transpose to 647.
If you have any
problems in transposing sounds to numbers then you haven’t learned the Phonetic
Alphabet rules properly. Go back to Tutorials 5 and 6 and work through them
thoroughly – the Phonetic Alphabet should become second nature to you.
problems in transposing sounds to numbers then you haven’t learned the Phonetic
Alphabet rules properly. Go back to Tutorials 5 and 6 and work through them
thoroughly – the Phonetic Alphabet should become second nature to you.
Of course, if you
remember 174120525400647 forwards, then you also know it backwards. Taking each
word in your Link backwards, shark, roses, lunch, tennis, and tiger must give
you 746004625021471.
remember 174120525400647 forwards, then you also know it backwards. Taking each
word in your Link backwards, shark, roses, lunch, tennis, and tiger must give
you 746004625021471.
Easy, isn’t it ? By
combining the simple rules of the Phonetic Alphabet with the equally simple
Link System, you have the means of memorising any long digit number, forwards
and backwards.
combining the simple rules of the Phonetic Alphabet with the equally simple
Link System, you have the means of memorising any long digit number, forwards
and backwards.
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