Topic 6: Transposing Numbers to Words and Phrases - Tutorial 9
Having learned how to translate digits into letters, the next step is learning how to transpose numbers into words and phrases. Once you have transposed a number into a word or phrase, it can easily be memorised using the principle of Association of Ideas.
For example, take the number 9520. Let's imagine that it is your PIN (Personal Identification Number) for a Cash Point card which you have been issued by your bank or building society. You need to remember the number but, for obvious security reasons, you don't wish to keep a written record of it.
In order to transpose 9520 into a word, you simply transpose the digits to letters one by one, then join those consonant sounds together using any suitable vowels. The consonant phonetic sounds in the number 9520 translate as follows :
9 transposes to p or b
5 transposes to l
2 transposes to n
0 transposes to s, z, or soft c
This gives us several possible words
which can be formed from these letters,
using any 'filler' vowels you choose.
Some examples are :
balloons (b-a-ll-oo-n-s)
9 5 2 0
(double letters count as one sound
except where they make two sounds)
pylons (p-y-l-o-n-s)
9 5 2 0
balance (b-a-l-a-n-ce)
9 5 2 0
To remember the number 9520, you simply choose one of these words, and memorise it. Let's say you choose ballons. Once you have memorised it, the word 'balloons' must lead you back to the number 9520 - simply remove the vowels and transpose the consonant sounds one at a time.
But how do you connect the word 'balloons' to your PIN? Easy - you simply form a mental association between balloons and your Cash Point card, or between ballons and the cash dispensing machine. For example, picture yourself inserting your card into a cash dispensing machine, and billions of balloons fly out of the machine and hit you in the face. Once you have made that ludicrous association you will not forget it - and once you remember 'balloons' it must lead you back to your PIN - 9520. If you have a Cash Point card, or any type of card with a PIN try it now, with your own number. Form a word from the number, then associate it to your card or cash dispensing machine. Remember to make the association as ridiculous as possible. Do that right now, before reading any further.
Let's take another example, this time a telephone number. Imagine you have a friend called Fred, and that you are constantly forgetting his telephone number, which is 941680. This number is a bit too long to easily transpose into one word, so we need two words, or a phrase.
Some examples of words which can be formed from 941680 are :
parrot jives (p-a-rr-o-t j-i-v-e-s)
9 4 1 6 8 0
bread shoves (b-r-ea-d sh-o-v-e-s)
9 4 1 6 8 0
pirate shaves (p-i-r-a-t-e sh-a-v-e-s)
9 4 1 6 8 0
To remember Fred's telephone, simply associate one of these to a picture of Fred using the telephone. For example, Fred is talking on the telephone while a parrot jives on top of his head. Or Fred is talking on the telephone and he has a huge pile of bread which he shoves down the telephone receiver as he speaks into it. Whenever you think of Fred using the telephone you would then be reminded of, say , 'parrot jives' , which must lead you back to his telephone number - 941680.
Before proceeding, try the system now, with the telephone numbers of three or four of your friends.
There are two main pitfalls to avoid when learning how to apply the Phonetic Alphabet - transposing according to letter rather than sounds, and counting a double letter as two sounds instead of one. Always remember that it is the sounds that count, not the actual spelling.
For example, the letter s in the word television transposes to 6, not zero - the 's' makes a soft 'sh' sound. Similarly, the letter 't' in the word audition transposes to 6, not 1.
The double letter 't' in the word 'matter' transposes to 1, not 11. However, a double letter can sometimes make two sounds, in which case both sounds count. For example the double 'c' in the word 'accident' would transpose to 70, because the sound produced is 'ks', as in 'axe'.
Finally, note that silent letters do not count phonetically, because they make no sound. So the word 'knight' would transpose to 21, not 721 - the silent 'k' is not counted.
In Tutorial 10 you will be shown how to transpose long numbers into several words and then link those words together using the Link memory system.