BibTex RIS Cite

Mnemonics as a Cognitive-Linguistic Network of Meaningful Relationships

Year 2016, Volume: 6 Issue: 1, 105 - 113, 14.07.2016

Abstract

Mastering a foreign language is arguably one of the most challenging memory feats. It clearly involves effective learning strategies if long-term proficiency is the goal. Outside of complete immersion in the language of study, whereby linguistic understanding is reinforced by recurrent practice, second-language acquisition depends on teaching materials that are both meaningful and memory enhancing. While mnemonic techniques have been derided for their dubious cognitive value, they find much theoretical support from the core findings of memory research concerning the importance of elaboration, association, and imagery, particularly at the time of encoding. After reviewing both the strengths and shortcomings of mnemonic devices as regards to language learning, an eclectic method is introduced that draws upon cognitive advances in human memory and best practices in applied linguistics with an eye toward its potential application in the study of a second language.

References

  • Atkinson, R. C. (1975). Mnemotechnics in second-language learning. American Psychologist 30 (8), 821-828.
  • Atkinson, R. C., & Shiffrin, R. M. (1968). Human memory: A proposed system and its control processes. In K. W. Spence & J. T. Spence (Eds.), The psychology of learning and motivation: Advances in research and theory: Vol. 2 (pp. 89-195). New York: Academic Press.
  • Baddeley, A. (2000). Short-term and working memory. In E. Tulving & F. I. M. Craik (Eds.), The Oxford handbook of memory (pp. 77-92). Oxford: Oxford University Press.
  • Baddeley, A., Gathercole, S., & Papagno, C. (1998). The phonological loop as a language learning device. Psychological Review 105 (1), 158-173.
  • Bahrick, H. P. (1984). Semantic memory content in permastore: Fifty years of memory for Spanish learned in school. Journal of Experimental Psychology: General 113 (1), 1-29.
  • Bahrick, H. P. (2000). Long-term maintenance of knowledge. In E. Tulving & F. I. M. Craik (Eds.), The Oxford handbook of memory (pp. 347-362). Oxford: Oxford University Press.
  • Bartlett, F. C. (1932). Remembering: A study in experimental and social psychology. London: Cambridge University Press.
  • Beaton, A. A., Gruneberg, M. M., Hyde, C., Shufflebottom, A., & Sykes, R. N. (2005). Facilitation of receptive and productive foreign vocabulary learning using the keyword method: The role of image quality. Memory 13 (5), 458-471.
  • Bellezza, F. S. (1981). Mnemonic devices: Classification, characteristics, and criteria. Review of Educational Research 51 (2), 247-275.
  • Brown, S. C., & Craik, F. I. M. (2000). Encoding and retrieval of information. In E. Tulving & F. I. M. Craik (Eds.), The Oxford handbook of memory (pp. 93-107). Oxford: Oxford University Press.
  • Craik, F. I. M., & Lockhart, R. S. (1972). Levels of processing: A framework for memory research. Journal of Verbal Learning and Verbal Behavior 11, 671-684.
  • Craik, F. I. M., & Watkins, M. J. (1973). The role of rehearsal in short-term memory. Journal of Verbal Learning and Verbal Behavior 12, 599-607.
  • Craik, F. I. M., & Tulving, E. (1975). Depth of processing and the retention of words in episodic memory. Journal of Experimental Psychology: General 104 (3), 268-294.
  • Ebbinghaus, H. (1964). Memory: A contribution to experimental psychology. (H. A. Ruger & C. E. Bussenius, Trans.). New York: Dover. (Original work published 1885)
  • Ellis, N., & Beaton, A. (1993). Factors affecting the learning of foreign language vocabulary: Imagery keyword mediators and phonological short-term memory. The Quarterly Journal of Experimental Psychology 46A (3), 533- 558.
  • Higbee, K. L. (2001). Your memory: How it works and how to improve it (2nd ed.). Cambridge, MA: Da Capo Press.
  • Masoura, E. V., & Gathercole, S. E. (1999). Phonological short-term memory and foreign language learning. International Journal of Psychology 34 (5/6), 383-388.
  • Moscovitch, M., & Craik, F. I. M. (1976). Depth of processing, retrieval cues, and uniqueness of encoding as factors in recall. Journal of Verbal Learning and Verbal Behavior 15, 447-458.
  • Paivio, A. (1979). Imagery and verbal processes. Hillsdale, NJ: Lawrence Erlbaum.
  • Paivio, A., & Desrochers, A. (1981). Mnemonic techniques in second-language learning. Journal of Educational Psychology 73 (6), 780-795.
  • Papagno, C., Valentine, T., & Baddeley, A. (1991). Phonological short-term memory and foreign-language vocabulary learning. Journal of Memory and Language 30, 331-347.
  • Papagno, C., & Vallar, G. (1992). Phonological short-term memory and the learning of novel words: The effect of phonological similarity and item length. The Quarterly Journal of Experimental Psychology 44A (1), 47-67.
  • Pressley, M., Levin, J. R., & Delaney, H. D. (1982). The mnemonic keyword method. Review of Educational Research 52 (1), 61-91.
  • Raugh, M. R., & Atkinson, R. C. (1975). A mnemonic method for learning a second-language vocabulary. Journal of Educational Psychology 67, 1-16.
  • Rumelhart, D. E., & Ortony, A. (1977). The representation of knowledge in memory. In R. C. Anderson, R. J. Spiro, & W. E. Montague (Eds.), Schooling and the acquisition of knowledge (pp. 99-135). Hillsdale, NJ: Erlbaum.
  • Service, E., & Kohonen, V. (1995). Is the relation between phonological memory and foreign language learning accounted for by vocabulary acquisition? Applied Psycholinguistics 16, 155-172.
  • Tulving, E., & Pearlstone, Z. (1966). Availability versus accessibility of information in memory for words. Journal of Verbal Learning and Verbal Behavior 5 (4), 381-391.
  • Tulving, E., & Thomson, D. M. (1973). Encoding specificity and retrieval processes in episodic memory. Psychological Review 80 (5), 352-373.
  • Wang, A. Y., & Thomas, M. H. (1992). The effect of imagery-based mnemonics on the long-term retention of Chinese characters. Language Learning 42 (3), 359-376.
  • Wang, A. Y., Thomas, M. H., & Ouellette, J. A. (1992). Keyword mnemonic and retention of second-language vocabulary words. Journal of Educational Psychology 84 (4), 520-528.
  • Wang, A. Y., & Thomas, M. H. (1995). Effect of keywords on long-term retention: Help or hindrance? Journal of Educational Psychology 87 (3), 468-475.
  • Wickelgren, W. A. (1977). Learning and memory. Englewood Cliffs, NJ: Prentice-Hall.
  • Worthen, J. B., & Hunt, R. R. (2011). Mnemonology: Mnemonics for the 21st century. New York: Psychology Press.
  • Yates, F. A. (1966). The art of memory. London: Routledge & Kegan Paul.
Year 2016, Volume: 6 Issue: 1, 105 - 113, 14.07.2016

Abstract

References

  • Atkinson, R. C. (1975). Mnemotechnics in second-language learning. American Psychologist 30 (8), 821-828.
  • Atkinson, R. C., & Shiffrin, R. M. (1968). Human memory: A proposed system and its control processes. In K. W. Spence & J. T. Spence (Eds.), The psychology of learning and motivation: Advances in research and theory: Vol. 2 (pp. 89-195). New York: Academic Press.
  • Baddeley, A. (2000). Short-term and working memory. In E. Tulving & F. I. M. Craik (Eds.), The Oxford handbook of memory (pp. 77-92). Oxford: Oxford University Press.
  • Baddeley, A., Gathercole, S., & Papagno, C. (1998). The phonological loop as a language learning device. Psychological Review 105 (1), 158-173.
  • Bahrick, H. P. (1984). Semantic memory content in permastore: Fifty years of memory for Spanish learned in school. Journal of Experimental Psychology: General 113 (1), 1-29.
  • Bahrick, H. P. (2000). Long-term maintenance of knowledge. In E. Tulving & F. I. M. Craik (Eds.), The Oxford handbook of memory (pp. 347-362). Oxford: Oxford University Press.
  • Bartlett, F. C. (1932). Remembering: A study in experimental and social psychology. London: Cambridge University Press.
  • Beaton, A. A., Gruneberg, M. M., Hyde, C., Shufflebottom, A., & Sykes, R. N. (2005). Facilitation of receptive and productive foreign vocabulary learning using the keyword method: The role of image quality. Memory 13 (5), 458-471.
  • Bellezza, F. S. (1981). Mnemonic devices: Classification, characteristics, and criteria. Review of Educational Research 51 (2), 247-275.
  • Brown, S. C., & Craik, F. I. M. (2000). Encoding and retrieval of information. In E. Tulving & F. I. M. Craik (Eds.), The Oxford handbook of memory (pp. 93-107). Oxford: Oxford University Press.
  • Craik, F. I. M., & Lockhart, R. S. (1972). Levels of processing: A framework for memory research. Journal of Verbal Learning and Verbal Behavior 11, 671-684.
  • Craik, F. I. M., & Watkins, M. J. (1973). The role of rehearsal in short-term memory. Journal of Verbal Learning and Verbal Behavior 12, 599-607.
  • Craik, F. I. M., & Tulving, E. (1975). Depth of processing and the retention of words in episodic memory. Journal of Experimental Psychology: General 104 (3), 268-294.
  • Ebbinghaus, H. (1964). Memory: A contribution to experimental psychology. (H. A. Ruger & C. E. Bussenius, Trans.). New York: Dover. (Original work published 1885)
  • Ellis, N., & Beaton, A. (1993). Factors affecting the learning of foreign language vocabulary: Imagery keyword mediators and phonological short-term memory. The Quarterly Journal of Experimental Psychology 46A (3), 533- 558.
  • Higbee, K. L. (2001). Your memory: How it works and how to improve it (2nd ed.). Cambridge, MA: Da Capo Press.
  • Masoura, E. V., & Gathercole, S. E. (1999). Phonological short-term memory and foreign language learning. International Journal of Psychology 34 (5/6), 383-388.
  • Moscovitch, M., & Craik, F. I. M. (1976). Depth of processing, retrieval cues, and uniqueness of encoding as factors in recall. Journal of Verbal Learning and Verbal Behavior 15, 447-458.
  • Paivio, A. (1979). Imagery and verbal processes. Hillsdale, NJ: Lawrence Erlbaum.
  • Paivio, A., & Desrochers, A. (1981). Mnemonic techniques in second-language learning. Journal of Educational Psychology 73 (6), 780-795.
  • Papagno, C., Valentine, T., & Baddeley, A. (1991). Phonological short-term memory and foreign-language vocabulary learning. Journal of Memory and Language 30, 331-347.
  • Papagno, C., & Vallar, G. (1992). Phonological short-term memory and the learning of novel words: The effect of phonological similarity and item length. The Quarterly Journal of Experimental Psychology 44A (1), 47-67.
  • Pressley, M., Levin, J. R., & Delaney, H. D. (1982). The mnemonic keyword method. Review of Educational Research 52 (1), 61-91.
  • Raugh, M. R., & Atkinson, R. C. (1975). A mnemonic method for learning a second-language vocabulary. Journal of Educational Psychology 67, 1-16.
  • Rumelhart, D. E., & Ortony, A. (1977). The representation of knowledge in memory. In R. C. Anderson, R. J. Spiro, & W. E. Montague (Eds.), Schooling and the acquisition of knowledge (pp. 99-135). Hillsdale, NJ: Erlbaum.
  • Service, E., & Kohonen, V. (1995). Is the relation between phonological memory and foreign language learning accounted for by vocabulary acquisition? Applied Psycholinguistics 16, 155-172.
  • Tulving, E., & Pearlstone, Z. (1966). Availability versus accessibility of information in memory for words. Journal of Verbal Learning and Verbal Behavior 5 (4), 381-391.
  • Tulving, E., & Thomson, D. M. (1973). Encoding specificity and retrieval processes in episodic memory. Psychological Review 80 (5), 352-373.
  • Wang, A. Y., & Thomas, M. H. (1992). The effect of imagery-based mnemonics on the long-term retention of Chinese characters. Language Learning 42 (3), 359-376.
  • Wang, A. Y., Thomas, M. H., & Ouellette, J. A. (1992). Keyword mnemonic and retention of second-language vocabulary words. Journal of Educational Psychology 84 (4), 520-528.
  • Wang, A. Y., & Thomas, M. H. (1995). Effect of keywords on long-term retention: Help or hindrance? Journal of Educational Psychology 87 (3), 468-475.
  • Wickelgren, W. A. (1977). Learning and memory. Englewood Cliffs, NJ: Prentice-Hall.
  • Worthen, J. B., & Hunt, R. R. (2011). Mnemonology: Mnemonics for the 21st century. New York: Psychology Press.
  • Yates, F. A. (1966). The art of memory. London: Routledge & Kegan Paul.
There are 34 citations in total.

Details

Other ID JA45ZV49YJ
Journal Section Articles
Authors

John Esposito This is me

Publication Date July 14, 2016
Published in Issue Year 2016 Volume: 6 Issue: 1

Cite

APA Esposito, J. (2016). Mnemonics as a Cognitive-Linguistic Network of Meaningful Relationships. The Journal of Language Learning and Teaching, 6(1), 105-113.