💡 Mnemonic Techniques 💡
Markus Burns
Construct memory aids to help you remember difficult vocabulary words.
Review the following set of mnemonics to improve your understanding of this useful memorization technique.
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What are mnemonics?
The word mnemonic originally derives from the Greek mnemon, meaning mindful. In ancient Rome, renowned orators such as Cicero and Quintilian made use of the method of loci, or method of places. In it, a speaker would imagine a familiar series of images, such as the items in a house or landmarks along a route. Then the speaker would associate an important point in the speech with each item or place. By linking items to remember with something familiar, they were able to recall long strings of information.
The method of loci is an early mnemonic, but the principles for creating them remain the same. Mnemonics help the brain encode and recall information by linking unfamiliar information with known or familiar things. Images, rhymes, and easy-to-remember keywords can all be used to help you tackle vocabulary words that are particularly difficult and confusing.
Types of mnemonics
Mnemonics can be created out of anything that you find easy to remember. The following details four different types of mnemonics.
Rhymes and sound-alikes
Rhymes or words and phrases that sound like the word you're trying to remember are useful for creating strong associations. To create a rhyming or sound-alike mnemonic, look for a part of the word that rhymes with or sounds like another word with which you're already familiar to cement the association.
Images
You can use an engaging and memorable image to learn new vocabulary words. Think of an image associated with the meaning of the word you want to remember. When you're trying to remember the meaning of the word, recall the image to remind you of the association. This method can often effectively be combined with rhyming or sound-alike mnemonics.
Keywords
Sometimes a difficult word will contain a shorter or less complex word with which you're familiar. Try breaking up a single word into recognizable parts or find a keyword to make the definition easier to remember.
Acrostics
To make an acrostic, take each letter of the word you're trying to remember and associate it with an easy word that begins with the same letter. You can form memorable phrases or sentences that will help you remember the meaning of a word when you recall the acrostic.
You can develop mnemonics to help you remember any vocabulary word you find particularly difficult.