MEMORY SYSTEM 5

THE ALPHABET SYSTEM
The Alphabet system is another Peg system similar in construc
tion to the Number-Shape and Number-Sound systems; bu
instead of using numbers, it uses the 26 letters of the alphabet
Its advantage is that it enables you to remember 26 objects
its only disadvantage being that most people find it hard to ree
off the alphabet in reverse order, or to know immediately the
number order of a given letter in the alphabet.
As with the two number systems, I suggest you first con
struct your own list, then compare it with alternative sugges
tions, and finally select your own list to be entered in the
memory box.
The method of constructing your Alphabet memory system
is as follows: Select a word that starts with the actual sound o
the letter, is visually outstanding, and comes first in the
dictionary.
For example, for the letter 'L' it would be possible to use
elastic, elegy, elephant, elbow, and elm, etc. If you were
looking up these words in the dictionary, the first one you
would come to would be elastic, and that is therefore the word
you would choose.
The reason for this rule is that if you should ever forget your
alphabet word, you can mentally flick through the letters in
order, rapidly arriving at the correct word. In the example
given, if you had forgotten your word, you would try el'a' and
would immediately be able to recall your first word—elastic
Another rule in the construction of the Alphabet memory
system is that if the letter itself makes a word (for example 'I
makes 'eye') then that word should be used. In some cases it is
possible to use meaningful initials instead of complete words
for example D.D.T.
I have listed the letters of the alphabet. Paying close atten
tion to the rules for constructing the system, pencil in your
own Alphabet system words.
Letter Alphabet memory word
A
B
C
D ..................
E
F
G
H
I
J
K
L
M
N
O
P
Q
R .
S
T
U
V
W
X
Y
Z
I hope that wasn't too tiring! Many people have difficulty in
constructing an Alphabet memory system, because they tend
to be far more visual- than sound-oriented.
Before considering the alternative suggestions, therefore, it
might be wise to re-check your own Alphabet memory words,
making sure you have started your words with the sound of the
letter or letter word and not simply the letter itself. For
example 'ant', 'bottle', 'case', 'dog', and 'eddy' would not be
correct memory words because they do not start with the
sound of the letter as it is pronounced in the alphabet.
Having re-checked your own words, now compare them
with the following list of suggestions, and when you have done
so select your final list and print it clearly in the Alphabet
memory system box. As before cross out your own list and the
list of suggestions when you have finished with them.
A Ace,—those of you with knowledge of American
history might use Abe.
B Bee—the letter makes a word; this is the word
that should be used.
C See—the same rule applies.
D Deed (legal)—the initials D.D.T. may be preferable.
E Easel
F Effigy
G Jeep, or gee-gee!
H H-bomb
I Eye
J Jay—a gaily coloured member of the crow family.
K Cage
L Elastic, or elbow if you pronounce elastic with a
long 'e'.
M Ember
N Enamel
O Oboe
P Pea—first alphabetically!
Q Queue
R Arch
S Eskimo
T Tea—or perhaps T-square.
U U-boat—'you' is too vague
V Vehicle, or the initials V.D.
W Wolf—the sound here is difficult; the initials W.G
can be used instead.
X X-ray
Y Wife
Z Zebra, or Z-car!
Now make your final choices and enter them in the memory
box.
Letter Final Alphabet memory word
A
B ...............
C ....
D
E
F
G
H .................
I
J ..................
K
L
M
N
O
P
Q
R
S
T
U
V
W
X
Y
Z
Your practice with the Alphabet system should be similar to
your practice with previous smaller systems.
The end of this chapter marks the end of your learning the
introductory and basic Peg and Link systems. From now on,
apart from a brief summary of these concepts in Chapter 7,
you will be learning more sophisticated and more expansive
systems that will enable you to remember lists of hundreds of
items, as well as systems to help you remember faces, numbers
etc.
The next chapter but one deals with an exciting new
system which has never been published or widely used,
although it has been carefully tested.