Mnemonics - Figure Alphabet

The Figure Alphabet is a means by which numbers may be memorised, and it was developed by Stanislaus Mink von Wennssheim in the mid-seventeenth century, and developed further by Gregor von Feinaigle.

The essence of the system is that each digit, from zero to nine, is represented by one or more consonant sounds. The following table shows which consonant sounds represent each digit, along with some hints as to how to go about remembering this information, although there is also an excellent site on this subject called Pseudonumerology.com.

Digit Letter(s) Mnemonic Aid

1 D or T The typewritten small letters "d" and "t" each have one vertical downstroke.

2 N The typewritten small letter "n" has two vertical downstrokes.

3 M The typewritten small letter "m" has three vertical downstrokes.

4 R The letter "r" is the fourth letter of the word "four".

5 L The letter "l" is the Roman numeral for 50, which is five multiplied by ten.

6 CH, G, J or SH These are all "soft" sounds, e.g. the "g" is pronounced as in the word "gaol". Remember that the number "6" and the letter "j" are almost mirror images of each other; the other three letters have similar sounds to the letter "j".

7 C, G, K or Q These are all "hard" sounds, e.g. the "c" is pronounced as in the word "cat", the "g" as in the word "gate", the "k" as in the word "kit" and the "q" as in the word "quit". Remember that a capital letter "K" can be made by combining two number 7s, at different angles; the other two letters have similar sounds to the letter "k".

8 F, PH or V A hand-written letter "f" has two loops, just like the number eight. The letters "ph" and "v" have similar sounds to the letter "f".

9 B or P The letter "p" is the mirror image of the number "9", and the letter "b" is pronounced in a similar way to the letter "p".

0 C, S or Z These are all "soft" sounds, e.g. the "c" is pronounced as in the word "lace", the "s" as in the word "suit" and the "z" as in the word "zero". Remember that the word "zero" starts with the letter "z", and that these three are similar sounds to each other.

Digit	Letter(s)	Mnemonic Aid
1	D or T	The typewritten small letters "d" and "t" each have one vertical downstroke.
2	N	The typewritten small letter "n" has two vertical downstrokes.
3	M	The typewritten small letter "m" has three vertical downstrokes.
4	R	The letter "r" is the fourth letter of the word "four".
5	L	The letter "l" is the Roman numeral for 50, which is five multiplied by ten.
6	CH, G, J or SH	These are all "soft" sounds, e.g. the "g" is pronounced as in the word "gaol". Remember that the number "6" and the letter "j" are almost mirror images of each other; the other three letters have similar sounds to the letter "j".
7	C, G, K or Q	These are all "hard" sounds, e.g. the "c" is pronounced as in the word "cat", the "g" as in the word "gate", the "k" as in the word "kit" and the "q" as in the word "quit". Remember that a capital letter "K" can be made by combining two number 7s, at different angles; the other two letters have similar sounds to the letter "k".
8	F, PH or V	A hand-written letter "f" has two loops, just like the number eight. The letters "ph" and "v" have similar sounds to the letter "f".
9	B or P	The letter "p" is the mirror image of the number "9", and the letter "b" is pronounced in a similar way to the letter "p".
0	C, S or Z	These are all "soft" sounds, e.g. the "c" is pronounced as in the word "lace", the "s" as in the word "suit" and the "z" as in the word "zero". Remember that the word "zero" starts with the letter "z", and that these three are similar sounds to each other.

Rules:

The vowels (i.e. "a", "e", "i", "o" and "u") are completely ignored in the phonetic alphabet, as are the letters "h", "w" and "y".
The system works by converting a number to its consonant sounds, inserting vowels and other "silent" consonants in the appropriate places, to form words. These words are then linked using association techniques to the original object.
The system works phonetically (i.e. it is based on sounds and not actual, letter for letter spelling).
Silent letters are ignored (e.g. the letter "k" in the word "knee" is silent, and therefore does not count).
Double letters in words are usually treated as a single letter (e.g. the word "patter" translates to "914", not "9114", since the double letter "t" makes the sound of a single letter "t"). There are exceptions to this, as in, for example, the word "accident", where the first letter "c" has the sound of a "k" and therefore transposes to the number "7", whilst the second letter "c" has the sound of an "s" and therefore transposes to the number "0".
The system is most effective when it is highly personalised (i.e. use the mnemonics that are most vivid to you).

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