The Major System
The Major System was organized by German professor Johann Just Winkelmann around the end of the 1600s. This mnemonic system is based on the substitution of digits with language sounds, and may have been based on earlier systems devised by earlier writers. With this technique Winkelmann represented long numbers with sound sequences. For the number you want to remember you find corresponding letters which you turn into a word. To get the word you have to follow a few rules and use your own creativity as well, so the words you choose will be meaningful to you.
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Let's do an example to demonstrate how the Major System works. The code for a 4-digit lock for your bicycle is 0151:
0 = s or z 1 = t, d, or th 5 = l 1 = t, d, or th Using the first choices suggested by Professor Winkelmann, we have the letters STLT. That is not much better than 0151! Adding vowels: Here is where your own creativity or interests come in--STLT could be SaTeLliTe, or satellite for a space enthusiast, or STiLTon, Stilton, a type of cheese for someone who likes snacks or the Adventures of Geronimo Stilton book series, or even SToLe iT, stole it, for someone worried about the theft of their bike and who needs to remember to lock it up with 0151. |
The phone number from the National Geographic Brain Games video: 432-517-1689.
RMN LTK TCh VP, giving us the story "RoMaN Let Kay TeaCh VP."
RMN LTK TCh VP, giving us the story "RoMaN Let Kay TeaCh VP."
Since Professor Winkelmann's native language was German and he studied Latin and Greek, the letters and sounds he used may not be as common in your own native language and the words you frequently use. The Major System has had several revisions from different people over the last 300 years, thus the digits are matched with a few possible consonants, digraphs, or blends today to appeal to different language speakers. The key for using the Major System successfully is to select the digit-to-numbers paring that works best for you and use it consistently.
Some students who use the major system make use of visual cues or other connections to help make the number-to-letter pairings stronger. The "How to Become a Memory Champion" video clip below is one method--
In many areas of our daily life numbers are of importance. The Major System can help you to better remember them:
Some students play with reversing the table to convert words and names into numbers as well. Some people with more analytic minds and an affinity for numbers may find it easier to remember names of people they meet as series of numbers!
- Remember birthdays of friends and year dates of major events in history
- Mnemonics for important phone numbers (many students are lost when they do not have their phones to with them)
- Recall computer passwords
- Magic tricks and amazing feats with numbers, like memorizing many digits of π
Some students play with reversing the table to convert words and names into numbers as well. Some people with more analytic minds and an affinity for numbers may find it easier to remember names of people they meet as series of numbers!