Defining mnemonic and "mnemonic devices"

What is the keyword method?
The keyword method is a mnemonic device designed to facilitate learning foreign vocabulary.

What is the word "mnemonic" derived from and what did it mean?
The word "mnemonic" is derived from the Ancient Greek word "μνημονικός" (mnēmonikos), meaning "memory" or "relating to memory."

What are mnemonic devices?
Mnemonic devices are learning strategies which serve to enhance the learning process and subsequent recall of information.

What are mnemonic devices generally applied to?
Mnemonic devices are generally applied to information that's hard to learn, remember, or comprehend.

The Early Origins of the Keyword Method

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What is a keyword?

What is a keyword as used in the keyword method?
As used in the keyword method, a keyword is a word in your native language that sounds like some part of a word in a foreign language.

Is there a lexical connection between a keyword and a foreign word besides the similar sounds?
No, there's no lexical connection between a keyword and a foreign word besides the similar sounds.

What part of a foreign word does a keyword usually sound like?
The part of a foreign word that a keyword usually sounds like is the beginning or all of it.

How does the Keyword Method work?

What are the two steps of the keyword method?
The two steps of the keyword method are:

  1. Associate the spoken foreign word with a keyword - This is called an acoustic link.
  2. Form a mental image linking the keyword and the translation of the foreign word in your native language - This is called an imagery link.

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