Mnemotechnic Words
1-minute read • Memory Techniques Wiki
In his 1845 book, Phreno-Mnemotechny, Francis Fauvel Gouraud wrote about using the Major System to memorize dates.
The Technique
The “mnemotechnic word” is a date that is encoded with the Major System. Here is a list of examples from the book:
He explained that a connecting phrase should be made from the event to the mnemotechnic word in order to make the phrase make sense. All of the items together are referred to as the formula.
Here are some of the examples that Gouraud provides:
| Event | Connecting Phrase | Mnemotechnic Word |
|---|---|---|
| Death of Abraham | After his death Abraham went gloriously to repose in the bosom of… | divinity (1821 BCE) |
| Destruction of Troy | The destruction of Troy was completed by the raging flames of a… | hot wood fire (1184 BCE) |
