Unit 24 Mnemonics

Unit 24
Mnemonics
Mnemonics are memory tools for remembering information that is otherwise quite difficult to recall. A very simple example is the “30 days hath September”thyme. The basic principle of mnemonics is to use as many of the best functions of your brain as possible to store information. Our brains evolved to code and interpret complex stimuli such as images, colors, structures, sounds, smells, tastes, touch, positions, emotions and languages. We use these to make sophisticated models of the world we live in.
Using Your Whole Mind to Remember
By coding languages and numbers in striking images, you can reliably code both information and the structure of information. You can then easily recall these later by doing the following things: 1. Use positive, pleasant images. The brain often blocks out unpleasant ones. e vivid, colorful, sense-laden ima-ges —these are easier to remember than drab ones. Remember that your mnemonic can contain sounds, smells, tastes, touch, movements and feelings as well as pictures. 3.Give your image three dimensions, movement and space to make it more vivid.
4.Exaggerate the size of important parts of the image.
5. Use humor! Funny or peculiar things are easier to remember than normal ones.
6. Symbols (red traffic lights, pointing fingers, road signs, etc. ) can code quite complex messages quickly and effectively.
Designing Mnemonics: Imagination and Association
The two fundamental principles underlying the use of mnemonics are imagination, and association. You can use them to generate powerful mnemonic systems. Imagination is what you use to create and strengthen the associations needed to create effective mnemonics. Your imagination is what you use to create mnemonics that are potent for you. The more strongly you imagine and visualize a situation, the more effectively it will stick in your mind for later recall. The imagery you use in your mnemonics can be as violent, vivid, or sensual as you like, as long as it helps you to remember. Association is the method by which you link a thing to be remembered to a way of remembering it. As an example, you might link the number 1 with a goldfish by visualizing a 1-shaped spear being used to spear it.
Foreign languages are the ideal subject area for the use of memory techniques. Learning vocabulary is often a matter of associating a meaningless collection of syllables with a word in your own language. Traditionally people have associated these words by repetition —by saying the word in their own language and the foreign language time and time again. You can improve on this tedious way of learning by using mnemonics. For instance, you may use images to link a word in your own language with a word in a foreign language. English: grumpy —Chinese: 牢骚满腹的Image：a grumpy woman groaning with irritation.
译文：
单词记忆术
记忆术就是记忆工具，帮助记忆那些不依靠记忆技巧而十分难以回忆的信息。

一个非常简单的例子是“9月有30天”的百里香。

记忆术的基本原理是尽可能用你大脑的好的功能来储存信息。

我们的大脑渐渐形成了图像、颜色、结构、声音、嗅觉、味觉、触觉、定位、情绪和语言来编码和解释复杂的事物。

我们制作一个我们居住世界的精致模型。

用你所有的精力去记忆
把语言和数字编码成图像，你能确实编码两个信息和信息的结构。

做下列的事情，你可以容易的回想起这些：1.使用积极的，令人愉快的图片。

大脑时常概括画出不令人愉快的那个。

2.运用生动的，华丽的感官想象——比单调的东西更容易记忆。

运用声音、嗅觉、味觉、触觉、行动和感觉来记住你记忆的图像。

3.给你的图像一个三维空间——移动和空间使它更加生动、形象。

4.扩大图像重要部分的尺寸。

5.运用幽默！滑稽的和特殊的事物比普通的更容易记忆。

6.标志（红色交通灯，手指指向，道路标记等等）能完全快速地和有效地编码复杂的信息。

设计记忆术：想象和联想
运用记忆术的两个基本原则是想象和联想。

你能运用它们形成非常强大的记忆系统。

想象是你运用创造和加强需要创造有效记忆术的联想。

想象是运用创造对于你来说有效的记忆术。

越强大的想象和形象化一个环境，它会更有效的在你的头脑中并回忆起来。

你在记忆术中的想象可以看做一个你喜欢的强烈的，生动的和感觉的，只要他帮助你记忆。

联想是你结合一个事物去记忆它的方式。

例如，你用金鱼的刺来想象数字1，用刺来刺它。

外语是一个运用记忆技术的典型的主题领域。

学习词汇通常是一个运用自己的语言把没有意义的音节收集起来。

传统上人们用背诵来串联这些单词，重复的用自己的语言和外语来说这些单词。

你可以通过记忆术来改进这种沉闷的方法。

比如，你可以用一个单词链接自己语言和外语的词汇。

中文：牢骚满腹的，想象：一个爱抱怨的女人在呻吟着。

词汇：
code vt.给……编码
exaggerate vt.夸大
fundamental adj.根本的
groan vi.呻吟
imagery n.形象（总称）
irritation n.愤怒
model n.模型
potent adj.有力的
principle n.原则
reliably adv.可靠地
rhyme n.歌谣
sense-laden adj.充满感知的
sensual adj.感觉的，色情的
sophisticated adj.复杂精密的
spear n.矛vt 刺
stimuli n. [pl] 刺激物store vt.储存strengthen vt.加强striking adj.惊人的syllable n.音节visualize vt.想象
vivid adj.形象生动的
流行短语：
as long as 只要
block out 阻隔
time and time again 反复。