A Guide to the Major System: How to Create a 2-Digit System for Memorizing Verse Numbers
One may be able to manage several verses or a chapter of the Bible without much difficulty, but once one has memorized an entire book or extended passages of Scripture, it can become more challenging. A number system can be helpful for organizing multiple texts and managing verse references. Usually mnemonic literature emphasizes the importance of number systems for memorizing random digits, passwords, and historical dates; however, I would like to also emphasize its value in providing structure to memory palaces for easier navigation and access to stored texts.
In today’s post, I will explore the Major System, a phonetic system that assigns sounds to digits for the purpose of converting numbers to images. If I were only allowed to teach three things, it would be the link method, method of loci, and the Major System. Every time I memorize the Bible, I am using the Major System, namely, to memorize verse numbers and to organize the book as a whole in a series of linked memory palaces. I will explain how it works and provide the phonetics for this system.
The Major System
0 = S, Z, soft C
1 = T, D
2 = N
3 = M
4 = R
5 = L
6 = SH, soft CH, J, soft G, ZH
7 = K, hard C, hard G, hard CH, Q, QU
8 = F, V, PH
9 = P, B
As you observed above, each digit from 0-9 has an assigned sound. You can use these sounds to create words which can be used as images for your 2 digit system. In order to create images, convert the each 2 digit number from 00-99 to their corresponding sounds and insert additional vowels or consonants to form words. As I explained in my previous post, you can then use these images with the link method to memorize verse numbers. I will give you some examples to make this point more clear.
There are many words you may choose to be your image for each number because there can be multiple sound combinations. For 00, instead of S and a soft C, you could use SS and create SoSa, as in Sammy Sosa, the famous baseball player. For 01, instead of ZT, you could use SD and create SeeD or SoDa. In order to create a 2 digit system, continue this process for digits 00-99. But, before you do so, let me share some general principles to follow to help you create a quality number system.
Avoid First Position Vowels
Avoid vowel-consonant-vowel-consonant (VCVC) structures; try to create images that are consonant-vowel-consonant (CVC) or consonant-vowel consonant-vowel (CVCV). If you are creating an image for the number 13, in most cases, it is better to use DiMe or TiM instead of aToM. Here are some reasons why I believe paying attention to the consonant-vowel structure matters.
Subvocalization
The more syllables that you have in a word, the more time it will take for you to subvocalize it during memorization. It is faster to say the word “dime” than it is to say “atom” as it is faster to say “Mike” than it is to say “Michael Jordan.” Just to show you what I mean, I want you to pronounce the words below for options 1 and 2, and to take note of the difference.
Option 1: Seasoning, Refrigerator, Basketball, Computer, Envelope
Option 2: Mike, Fridge, Ball, Dime, Cat.
Each option had five words, but which of the two sets of words were you able to subvocalize the quickest: option 1 or option 2? You may be saying, “Ron, it is just a difference of seconds. Is it really that important at the end of the day?” I would argue that if you are able to more quickly convert numbers to images, you are better equipped to encode chapters and verse numbers on the spot.
If someone were to ask you, “What was the sermon this morning?” Would you be able to briefly summarize it and give a list of supporting verses? The Major System can help you remember your notes, that is mental notes, or outlines on a physical page; and especially verse references. The art of memory is the art of division. It is learning how to listen, divide what you hear into parts, and to organize it for recall and contemplation. Preachers often use mnemonic devices such as alliteration and points in order to make their sermons more memorable.
Have you ever wondered why we say, “point number one” or “in the first place”? In rhetoric, this language is derived from the canon of memory. It is referring to the first “point” or “place” in one’s memory palace; to give points was to give instructions to listeners. In other words, the speaker wants you to put what he is about to say in the first locus of your memory palace.
Memory Aid
Another reason I encourage CVC and CVCV structures is that it can act as a memory aid. At first, when memorizing verse numbers you may not be able to immediately recognize every number that you encounter in order quickly convert it to your pre-defined image. If you have not mastered your 2 digit number system yet, on some occasions you may have to make up an image on the spot or try to recall the image that you created.
For example, imagine that you were trying to memorize 23:52. You may look at 23 and easily recognize that its image is NeMo (23), but you may draw a blank on the number 52 and have no idea what image you used for it. At this point, you have two options, you can either create an image on the spot or consider the possible words that may be formed with the letters L and N in order to find the corresponding image in your system such as lion, lean, lane, line, and so on.
If you had (aLLeN) as an image for 52 in your 2-digit system instead of something like “Lion” that has a CVC structure, it becomes more difficult to figure out the image you created for the number. You need to add additional task because now you have to also consider the possible words that start with vowels along with the letters L and N such as eLoN, eLLen, aLLen, lion, lean, lane, line, and so on.
Avoid Abstract Images
Avoid using abstract images in your number system. It is better to use “LoG” than “LuCK” for the number 57 because you cannot see “luck” with your mental eye, it is not physical. You cannot touch it with your hands or put it in your pocket, it is not concrete. However, you can imagine a wooden log and yourself chopping it to pieces or feeling its texture. Perhaps, the only time an abstract word like “Luck” would be fine is if you can imagine a concrete image associated with that word instead. So, when you see the word “Luck,” perhaps you can see a rabbit’s foot, or a colorful marshmallow from a “Lucky Charms” cereal box. In other words, if you decide to use an abstract word, make sure that it points to a concrete image.
Proper Distribution: 10% People and Characters, and 90% Objects
Keep in mind the proportion of people that are used as images in your number system. When there are too many people, you are more likely to have more Person-Person combinations than Person-Object combinations during memorization. I have often talked about the importance of directionality in linking images. We must make sure that the first image acts upon the second to help us avoid swapping the order. From my experience, when you have a person interact with an object, it is easier to have a clear sense of direction.
A rock looks much different than a couch, a couch looks much different than a vacuum, and a vacuum looks much different than a spoon, but humans share physical attributes in which it is sometimes hard to distinguish. Sometimes all you will see is a blurry human figure. You may ask yourself, “Was it Samuel or Bill?” or “Was it Ronald acting upon Jack or Jack acting upon Ronald? But, the clear distinctiveness of objects can assist in creating a sense of direction when linking. For example,
The ROCK hits SAMUEL (Object and Person)
Rock (1st image) —> Samuel (2nd image)
SAMUEL throws the ROCK (Person and Object)
Samuel (1st image) —> Rock (2nd image).
Use Intuitive and Familiar Images
You may have an image that is good phonetically but it is not as memorable or striking. At times, it better to ignore rules and to use an image that resonates with you more emotionally than to use an image that is perfectly in accordance to Major System phonetics. Perhaps, your wife’s birthday is on the 23rd, and when you see the number 23, the first thing you think of is your wife. So, in this case, it can be fitting to ignore the Major System phonetic rules, and use an image of your wife instead of something like NeMo for 23.
I have interviewed many world-class memory athletes for my podcast. They often emphasized the importance of trusting in your memory and intuition. There may be times when you are attempting to recall an image, but can’t see anything at a locus, you only feel the presence of something or someone familiar. Perhaps you sense the presence of a loved one, you can’t explain why, but there is a feeling that can’t escape you. This is when we must learn to trust in our intuition. This is the value of using familiar images — they often leave a mark at loci.
Avoid Similar Images
You want to avoid having similar images in your number system. If you used RaT for 41, and MouSe for 30, or CuP for 79 and MuG for 37, you can have some problems during memorization and recall. A rat is similar to a mouse and a cup is similar to a mug, so during recall you may question yourself, “Was it a rat or a mouse at this locus?” or “Was it a cup or a mug”? For this reason, it is important that each of your images are distinct from one another as to ensure accuracy in recall.
The only case in which I would think it is fine to use similar images is if you have a distinct characteristic to the object or person. Perhaps, it is not an ordinary mug, but a special Christmas mug that was given to you by your grandmother. There can be a clear distinction through imagining the details on the mug, and having an emotional attachment to it. You can also separate the two images by emphasizing their material: the mug can be made of glass and the cup can be made of plastic. You can highlight this distinction by always imagining the mug shattering to pieces or the cup melting at a locus; so, during recall, the contextual clues can help you remember which one appeared in the location.
Homework
For homework, create a 2 digit number system from 00-99 using the Major System. As you are creating the system, practice converting the digit to the sound and the sound to the digit. It should become automatic, so much so that when you see the number 23, you should see NM or when you see 01, you see ST, and vice-versa. I recommend creating 20 digits a week, however, if you can dedicate more time to practicing mnemonics, you can create your entire system in a week.
Exercise
In order to improve your recognition speed, I encourage you to choose any text of your choice and practice converting the consonants to digits. You can do this for about 10-15 minutes a day until you are comfortable with reading the phonetics. I will give you an example of how to do so below. Here is the a text and its conversion.
Text: “Water is useful to the ship and helps it to sail better to the haven, but let the water get into the ship, if it is not pumped out, it drowns the ship. So riches are useful and convenient for our passage. We sail more comfortably with them through the troubles of this world; but if the water gets into the ship, if love of riches gets into the heart, then we are drowned by them.” - Thomas Watson
Conversion: 1400851109215801105911411829151114711109810219391111420109046040852172822184490060534738419511314611495081045191811410110985884607101141141421913. -130102
Mastering your 2-Digit System
Once you have created your 2-digit system, you need to master it, that is, you should be able to see any 2-digit number and immediately convert it to your image. You can create flashcards (digital or physical) and do speed-drills. Practice converting the numbers to images with the goal of recognizing a number in 1.5 seconds or less. Do not feel rushed to master your system, if you can only practice 5 minutes a day, that is perfectly fine, just make sure that you are consistent.
Notice that in my newsletter, I did not start out explaining how to memorize texts, but I first discussed the link method, memory palace design, and number systems. I believe these are fundamental skills for memorizing texts according to the classical tradition. Ancient rhetoricians did not use the Major System, but they used similar concepts such as placing a golden hand at every 5th locus in order to organize their memory palaces for easier navigation and recall. As you will see in future posts, number systems can be helpful for creating a “designed memory.”
*If you have any questions regarding number systems and how to create one, please do not hesitate to reach out to me at ronaldmjohnsonjr@gmail.com and we can set up a Zoom call. Or you can leave a comment here on Substack and I will be sure to respond.
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