Chapter 4

 

The Phonetic Digital Band

 

Overview

 

The chapter will cover the following topics:

o    Phonetic Digits

o    The Sounds of Digits

o    Phonetic Pictures

o    Phonetic Digits Exercise

 

Phonetic Digits

Phonetics is the art of representing vocal sounds by signs and written characters. In our Phonetic Numbers we shall associate each digit with an equivalent sound, which by itself is represented by an alphabetical letter.

 

Our phonetic alphabet consists only of consonants; no vowels, and it contains only selected phonetic letters. Each phonetic letter has a phonetic numerical value equal to the digit it represents. An example: if the digit 1 has a phonetic equivalent of the sound of the letter ‘t’, then the following words will have a phonetic value of ‘1’: tea, toe, tie, two. The reason is that the ‘t’ has a value of ‘1’, but the vowels ‘a’, ‘e’, ‘o’, ‘i’, and ‘u’ (and the letter ‘w’) have no values. However, a word like ‘tot’ will have a value of ‘11’, because it contains 2 ‘t’s (the ‘o’ has no value, NOT a value of ‘0’).

 

We shall now review each digit in detail and present its phonetic sound and representative alphabet letter. Later, we shall use the phonetic sounds to establish picture words for each digit, and use the visualisation of the digits picture words to establish our memory frame of reference. When a digit is represented by more than one phonetic letter, it is usually because the letters sound phonetically the same (e.g. use same tongue/mouth movement to produce the sounds). Examples are the letters ‘p’ and ‘b’.

 

It is VITAL that you practice memorising each digit’s phonetic sound and phonetic picture. This should be relatively easy as the associations, hopefully, are logical and easy to understand.

 

Digit 1 Phonetic Sound

The ‘1’ phonetic sound is represented by the letters ‘t’ or ‘d’. The ‘t’ or ‘d’ has only one stroke down its body shape.

1 =

 

Digit 2 Phonetic Sound

The ‘2’ phonetic sound is represented by the letter ‘n’. The ‘n’ has two strokes down its body shape.

2 =

 

Digit 3 Phonetic Sound

The ‘3’ phonetic sound is represented by the letter ‘m’. The ‘m’ has three strokes down its body shape.

3 =

 

Digit 4 Phonetic Sound

The ‘4’ phonetic sound is represented by the letter ‘r’. The ‘r’ is the 4^th letter of ‘Four’

4 = r

Digit 5 Phonetic Sound

The ‘5’ phonetic sound is represented by the letter ‘l’. The roman number 50 is ‘L’.

5 = l

Digit 6 Phonetic Sound

The ‘6’ phonetic sound is represented by the letters ‘j’, soft ‘g’, ‘sh’ or ‘ch’. The letter ‘g’ (in Arial font) resembles 6 when turned 180 degrees ‘’.

6= j softg sc ch

 

Digit 7 Phonetic Sound

The ‘7’ phonetic sound is represented by the letters ‘k’, hard ‘c or hard ‘g’. The letter ‘k’  resembles 2 7s connected upside down.

7 = k hardc hardg

Digit 8 Phonetic Sound

The ‘8’ phonetic sound is represented by the letters ‘f’ or ‘v’. The digit ‘8’ resembles a handwritten letter ‘f’.

8 = f v

Digit 9 Phonetic Sound

The ‘9’ phonetic sound is represented by the letters ‘p’ or ‘b’. The letters resemble the shape of the digit 9 when rotated vertically (p) or horizontally (b).

9 = b p

Digit 0 Phonetic Sound

The ‘0’ phonetic sound is represented by the letters ‘s’ or ‘z’, as in the first letter of Zero.

0 = s z

 

Here is a summary table of the above. Although you can use multiple letters to represent a digit/number, we recommend that you select ONE letter and use it for creating all the phonetic word pictures STARTING with that letter. This ensures consistency and makes it easier to remember your memory list later. Our recommended starting letters are in blue, with many examples to follow.

 

Number	Phonetic Equivalent
1	t, d
2	n
3	m
4	r
5	l
6	j, soft g, sh, ch
7	k, hard c, hard g
8	f, v
9	b, p
0	s, z

 

 

Phonetic Pictures

Now we shall construct the Phonetic Pictures of the digits. The rule is that each phonetic picture word must start with the phonetic letter representing the digit and has a phonetic value of the digit/number. This practically means that the picture words must start with the consonant letter and contain only vowels thereafter, as vowels have no phonetic value. Hence, the phonetic value of the whole picture word will be the value of the letter.

 

It is important to note that we are only interested in the SOUNDS of letters, not their presence in a word. Hence, the word ‘knee’ has a phonetic value of ‘2’; the ‘k’ is not pronounced (has no sound), the ‘n’ has a value of ‘2’ and the ‘ee’ vowels have no value.

 

Examples:

Phonetic Value of the word ‘Tree’ is 14; ‘T’=1, ‘r’=4, the ‘ee’ has no value

Phonetic Value of the word ‘Man’ is 32; ‘M’=3, ‘a’ no value, ‘n’=2

Phonetic Value of the word ‘Karaoke’ is 747; ‘K’=7, ‘r’=4, ‘k’=7

Phonetic Value of the word ‘Zoo’ is 0; ‘Z’=0, the ‘oo’ have no value

 

Each phonetic picture word representing a single digit/number must start with the digit phonetic letter and has a phonetic value equal to the numerical value of the digit. This practically means that the picture words must start with the relevant consonant letter and contain only vowels thereafter, as vowels have no phonetic value. We shall examine this concept in detail for the digit 1; and breeze through the other digits as they share the same concept.

 

We shall now present our suggestions for the phonetic picture words of all the digits. You should select only ONE picture to represent each digit/number and use it in your own unique memory frame of reference. At the end of this unit, you should have established your own, individual memory list of phonetic pictures of the digits.

 

Digit 1 Phonetic Picture

The phonetic picture word representing the digit 1 must start with either a ‘t’ or a ‘d’ and has a phonetic value of ‘1’ (i.e. vowels only, no other sound consonants). Although you can, theoretically, use either ‘t’ or ‘d’ to start your ‘1’ picture words, we recommend that you use the letter ‘t’ only at this stage to ensure consistency (as well as other reasons covered later, especially if you are planning to memorise playing cards!). 

 

Here are our suggestions for the digit ‘1’ phonetic word pictures. No doubt you may add many more (especially if you prefer the letter ‘d’ rather than ‘t’ to represent ‘1’).

 

Tie

Toe

Tea

Two

 

Digits Phonetic Pictures

 

1	Tie	Toe	Tea	Two	Tow (a broken car)
2	Noah	No!	Uno (the card game)	Knee
3	Moo (cow)	Me (I, music)	Ma (mum, mom)	Meow (cat)	Mow (the lawn)
4	Ray (sun, light)	Row (the boat)	Raw	kangaRoo	Re (music)
5	Law (police, judge)	Loo (toilet)	Lie	Low	Lay (coach)
6	Chew (gum)	Chi (Ti Chi)	Show (theatre, cinema)	Shoe
7	Key	Queue	Cow	Cue (Billiards)
8	Fee (money, invoice)	Foe (enemy)	Fa (music)	Vow (wedding)
9	Bee	Bay (beach/water)	Bow (arch)	Boo (scary)	Pea

 

Let us assume, for illustration purposes, that you selected the following as your phonetic pictures memory list. Go through the list and memorise it by heart. You must SEE, HEAR and FEEL each picture word as you visualise, speak and ‘touch’ it (in your mind).

 

1	Tie	OR
2	Noah	OR
3	Moo
4	Ray
5	Law	OR
6	Shoe	OR
7	Key
8	Fa (Musical Notes)	OR
9	Bee

 

 

Although you will most probably start all your phonetic memory lists with the number 1, the digit ‘0’ also has its phonetic picture word. We shall use ‘Saw’ to represent ‘0’ zero, if you choose to start your list with ‘0’, rather than ‘1’.

 

0

Saw

 

Now, let us use our ‘Lights, Camera, Action!’ memory method in an Exercise to illustrate the use of the phonetic memory technique in action (e.g. memory movie).

 

Exercise: Phonetic Memorising

Use the ‘Lights, Camera, Action!’ method to link the items list with your phonetic memory Pegs.

 

Lights

 

Determine your own list of the digits/numbers picture objects (Pegs). It could be something like this (but yours could be different):

 

1. Tie	2. Noah	3. Moo
4. Ray	5. Law	6. Shoe
7. Key	8. Fa	9. Bee

 

Go through the list until you can recite it by heart and it is easy for you to remember. Try the list going backwards from 9 to 1. Then try the list starting from 5 to 9 then 4 to 1. Then try recalling items in random order: 3, 6, 1, 8 and so on. You should be able to visualise the complete list very quickly, in any order, without a moment’s hesitation before you move on to Camera.

 

Camera

Take pictures of the items list to be remembered. This could be something like this (same list used in Units M120 and M130, but in a new order):

 

1. Earth Globe	2. Chainsaw	3. Printer
4. Fan	5. Desk	6. Beach
7. Car	8. Aeroplane	9. Bells

 

Action

Make memory movies starring your memory Pegs and your picture objects in the leading roles. Your first memory movie will star the Tie and the Earth; your second memory movie will star Noah and Chainsaw, and so on.

 

We shall help by telling you about our own movies for the above 1 and 2 items. Here we go:

The EARTH is being wrapped by a huge, colourful TIE to ‘dress it up’ for the inauguration ceremony of the Solar System. Unfortunately, the Milky winds grow fierce and the EARTH’s TIE is thrown about furiously, causing EARTH to arrive at the ceremony with the TIE covering all his face.

 

 

 

 

 

The animals are making such a loud noise in the Ark, that NOAH is getting gradually agitated. Finally, he picks up his CHAINSAW and rushes to the Ark, cutting it to pieces in frenzy. The animals are jumping all over the place in astonishment, some diving in the water to escape.

 

 

 

 

Now continue to make/direct your own memory movies for the other 7 items. Once you completed your 9^th movie, stop. Make yourself a cup of coffee/tea and return after 10 minutes.

 

Now that you have returned refreshed, recall the 9 items you needed to remember. Start first by visualising your phonetic Peg for the number 1, recall the memory movie you created and that should lead you to remember the list item. Repeat the above for all 9 items. If you could not remember an item, it usually means that your memory movie was not exciting, vibrant, emotional or exaggerated. In summary, it may have been boring (no PLOT), static (no ACTION), un-emotional (no seeing, hearing, feeling, tasting, or LOUD noises) and mundane (nothing was HUGE, MILLIONS of). Apologies for the bluntness of this analysis, but you must practice until your movies are memorable!

 

You now have built the foundation of a powerful memory system. The phonetic memory technique is so commanding that it is one of the most commonly used techniques for remembering numbered or listed items. Its power lies in its flexibility and scalability. In the next Chapter 5 Memory Orchestra, you shall learn how to expand the basic 0-9 structure above to (almost) infinite capacity.