Ben System

General Memory Chat
1

Hi, I am rookie here, working hard to make up my own mnemonic system.

Since English is my second language, I have some questions to confirm from you.

  1. How to convert 4-digit number into words by using Ben System?

for example: 342/3

according to my beta system, 342=elephant, 003= cup.

I guess, then 3423 = elephant putting his nose in a cup.

Is it correct? I am not confident yet.

  1. Converting 8-digit by using Ben system.

e.x.) 932/482/42

932=cat, 482=pen, 042=desk

93248242= a cat jumping into desk, with a pen in his mouth.

  1. How to memorize historical date along with specific month & date by using Ben System?

Not for competition, for exam.

e.x. : American War of Independence (1775 . 4 . 19 - 1783. 9. 3)

I heard that for historical events, I drop first 1, so it becomes “775”.

But what about rest numbers “419” ? How should I divide them?

  1. “041” + “9”
  2. “04” + “19”

Which one is better? Or is there any better method to divide month and day?

  1. I don’t know why people make over 2700 images regarding Ben System.

Could you explain me why?

It was only 999 images that I thought first. I mean the whole number of images I should make up for constructing Ben System.

(Plus, I am not interested in neither Binary nor Card. Maybe in future, but not at the moment.)

I’d appreciate for any advice regarding above questions,

Good day!

2

I would recommend extending your system to 1-digit (0-9) and 2-digit (00-99) numbers as well. This only adds 110 more images, and allows you to be more specific when encoding and recalling numbers.

In this way a number like 3423 can be remembered as 342 & 3 or 34 & 23 (or even 3 & 423 but I wouldn’t recommend that).

This would work. Make sure you have a sequence of events or order such as left-to-right that keeps the numbers in their proper order like "cat (left) leaping through air catches a pen (middle) and lands on the desk (right).

I like what you mentioned about dropping the 1 in a year to remember years. I may start using this!

For days and months I’m remembering them like April 19 = 419. Your 3-digit system will works good for this up through September 30. Then for October I’m using 001 to 031. Then for November and December you need sounds for the number 11 and the number 12, so that you can pronounce 1101 and 1231 just like 3-digit numbers. I’m using a Josh System so my assignment for 11 in this case is the j/ch/sh sound and my assignment for 12 is the g/y sound.

It’s for all the combinations of playing cards and suits. There are other methods of doing this though that seem to be working just as well, such as what recent champion Alex Mullen does. I think he uses half that number of images and changes the locus depending on the color of the first card in each pair. Check out this thread.

3

I don’t know how Ben does it, but I have images for 0-9 and 00-99 too.

To add to what Slate mentioned, I use this system to make everything fit together:

0-9 are vowels
00-99 are consonant-vowel
000-999 are consonant-vowel-consonant (the Ben System)

1225 could be split into these possibilities, in order of my general preference:

  1. 12-25 -- pronounced "TU-NAI", a tuna (12) and a nightingale (25)
  2. 122-5 -- pronounced "TUN-AI", a tuning fork (122) and a hook (5)
  3. 1-225 -- pronounced "I-NUL", a candle (1) and new-linens (225). I generally don't put the small group at the beginning though, unless it's something like 3.423 and I need to remember that the decimal place is after the 3.

See this description for more details.

4

Hi, Slate. Thank you for sharing your thoughts.

I will surely add 110 images as well, I am sure It’s worth it.

And thanks for making me notice of directions & orders. I’m gonna follow in order “left-to-right”.

Regarding leaving “1” to “775”, I read this is Ben Pridmore’s idea. I am glad you find it useful.

I wish I could add sound for 11 & 12, but I can’t find a way with my mother language.

Instead, I am thinking of way to divde numbers for month& day.

Like this. I divide “1225” into “122” and “5”.

Since “005” and “5” will be different, and I know if there any left number (2-digit & 1-digit) come last, I can notice it’s rest number.

For me 122 is gannam style man, and 5 is a stone.

Gannam style man throws a stone into ground. Then this is x-mas (12/25).

Combining year “775”, which means Jeju-island (it’s dormant volcano), it would be like this-

Volcano explodes, gannam style man runs away from rolling deadly burning rocks.

And last, I’m relieved to know that I don’t have to make 1600 images more. Thanks.

Regards,
wjd.