^Tutorial 9 - Transposing Numbers to Words and Phrases\

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 P.I.N.
(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)      (double letters count as one sound
            9   5     2 0        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 number ? 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 number -
9520. If you have a Cash Point card, or any type of card with a P.I.N, 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' maks 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.

But first you will need some practice at transposing words to numbers. Press
Page Down to test yourself.~