Numbers
Words were simple since they already represent a concept which in turn is either associated with an object or could easily be extrapolated in association to another object. Numbers and symbols however require a different approach which introduces the idea of a memory system:
1 . For each number and symbol create a unique identifier which can be easily visualised (again, preferably an object).
2. Keep this identifier consistent, do not change it or replace it.
3. Avoid using similar identifiers that are related in concept (for example cup and mug).
The way to create a unique identifier is to convert numbers and symbols into words that represent unique objects that, going forward, will be used in our pictures to represent the number. We begin this exposition by introducing the phonetic alphabet:
The idea of this approach is to associate with each number a consonant sound that exists in spoken words. We can then look at a list of numbers and easily convert them into words which in turn can be easily visualised. For example, say we are presented with the number 131485, its representation can easily be converted into letters using the table above, and the resulting list of letters could be one of the following permutations: “tmtrfl”, “tmtrvl”, “dmtrfl”,
“dmtrvl”. These lists of letters can easily be bundled into words by adding vowels, for example “Time Travel” or “Dome Truffle” which can be visualised as a time machine (think of the DeLorean from the Back to the future trilogy) for the first permutation, the London millennium dome built out of truffles for the second.
It is simple to notice how, using this technique, any number can be converted to letters and these in turn to images. The key rules are as follows:
1 . Memorise the table above and do not change it-unique identifiers must remain consistent for the system to work. An easy way to memorise this table is by applying some logic and some linking:
7- Seven offers no logic so link k,g (e.g. sounds like “cage”) with 7 (e.g. “Heaven”).
8- No logic so link f,v (e.g. “thief”) and 8 (e.g.- “Hate”).
9- Nine can be inverted into a “b” and reflected into a “p”.
0- Zero sounds like Z-ro or See-ro, which reminds of “S” and
“Z”.
Repeat this several times and test yourself to ensure complete control.
2 . Vowels and silent letters are ignored- so 14 can be
“Tyre” or “Tower” or “Tear” etc, it makes no difference.
When the images need to be converted back into the numbers, list of words that make the image can only be interpreted in one way once the vowels are ignored. So if we memorised Tyre or Tower or Tear with something else it would always mean 14 and no other number- thus there is no ambiguity.
Note that it is the sound that matters not the letter itself- so the “c” in “Lace” would be representing zero since it sounds like “Lasse” whilst “c” in “Cat” would be representing seven since it sounds like “Kat”.
3. Expand your list- it is advisable to extend the list above so that there is no need to break down the numbers into letters and then search for words that fit these letters. If the practitioner has a list of words for all numbers up to 100 then any two digits can easily be converted to a word and thus a step of thinking is eliminated and general speed is improved. We provide below an extended list up to 100, these should be memorised as above with either logic, association or rote- this is the only time we would excuse using rote since we are in the process of building a system that would eliminate any further use of this less efficient method.
A good approach would be to break the list into 10 groups of 10, memorising 10 each day- it is important to test every day the ability to recall what has been learnt until that point. Perfect recall of all 100 words makes everything else much more efficient and is highly recommended. The reader can use this list for ideas and can implement words that better suit him, the list below includes some common examples but it is always better to make this more personal and so alterations (subject to the general rules highlighted above) are highly recommended:
Note that world memory competitors tend to extend this process to the thousands, in order to have a readymade representation of larger chunks of numbers. This approach speeds up the process of converting numbers into pictures and thus requires fewer pictures to memorise a given number. It is the difference of memorising 314159 as:
-MO, TIE, ROW, TIE, LEE, Pie – in single digits, Versus
-MAD, ROT, LAB – using the list above, Versus
-METEOR, TULIP – using a list extended to 100.
This is an important point for competitive mentalists since the ability to cut the total number of pictures into half or a third greatly improves speed, increases space for storage, better accuracy and less effort.
Note that extending the list is not a necessary part of the system but simply a method of applying it more competitively. For most purposes (except for competitions), 100 is an optimal list size to work with since it can be learnt quickly enough so as to not be too onerous a step in the learning of this system whilst still serving the purpose of encoding numerical data into images.
A final point to mention here, is that the lists (be it 100 or 1000) can easily be expanded by adding dimensions such as colours, locations, smells and sounds. We expand on this approach in later in this chapter.
Symbols
As with words and numbers, symbols can be converted into images by:
1 . If the symbol is a representation of an object then visualise the object.
2. Otherwise convert the symbol into an object by attempting to associate it to
a. Something the symbol represents- for example the sign “$”
can be associated with “wealth”- which can be represented by sacks of money for example.
b. Something the symbol resembles- for example “*” looks
3. The representation needs to be unique and consistent- once all the symbols that are needed to be learnt for a particular topic are known, the reader is advised to draw a table with the object that would represent it. It is important to
remain consistent as it saves time and reduces the likelihood for error. For example, in the math section we would use the following:
The key is to draw up a list, write it down so a reference is available and then consistently apply it.