Assimilative Memory Part 23

"The Guide to Memory, or a New and Complete Treatise of a.n.a.logy between the French and English Languages," compiled by Charles Turrell, Professor of Languages, and published in 1828, contains the words which are the _same_ in each language (alphabet, banquet, couplet, &c.), and those almost the same--"Letters necessary in English, and superfluous in French, are included in a parenthesis, thus Bag(g)age. Letters necessary in French, and superfluous in English are printed in Italics, thus Hom_m_age." At first sight it seems as if this plan were a good one (and some still recommend it[H]). But of the words which are the same in both languages, some of them have meanings one rarely if ever needs to express, while others are seldom seen except in Dictionaries, so the student who uses this method does not make much _useful_ progress. The Rev. W. Healy, of Johnstown (Kilkenny), long before he had finished my course of lessons, stated: "_I wrote out the French words that correspond to the English of everything around us and that are in common use, and found that by the aid of Rec. Syn. I could commit them much faster than the time taken to write them out._"

[H] The "New Memory-Aiding French Vocabulary" by Albert Tondu, published by Hachett et Cie, London, in 1881, is a somewhat similar work to Charles Turrell's.

The words he had made himself familiar with were those most frequently met with in reading, and useful in speaking and writing.

Mr. D. Nasmith employed a clerk in finding the number of occurrences of the same word in three books. Some words occurred thousands of times, and others only five, or fewer. The words which frequently occurred he arranged in order, the commonest first, and compiled exercises to suit them. His "Linguists" (German and French) are published by Mr. D. Nutt, of 270, Strand, London, and by the aid of them, and of my System, a useful knowledge of German (or French) can be rapidly acquired.

A pupil who had a very slight acquaintance with French learned an a.n.a.lytic Series of French words, asking a French friend the meaning and p.r.o.nunciation of the words unfamiliar to him. By doing this he in about an hour learned the spelling, p.r.o.nunciation, and meaning of nearly 100 French words. Since then he has been extending the exercise, and in that way he has learned 1,000 French words. In doing so he is strengthening his memory by exercising it in accordance with its own laws, increasing the control his will has over his attention, and extending his French vocabulary.

1. Do we ever see words spelt differently but with the same p.r.o.nunciation?

2. Is the use of the Dictionary required?

3. What examples have we here of the benefits derived from Rec.-Synthesis?

4. With what words did he make himself familiar?

5. Does the same word frequently occur in a book?

6. What proof can you mention?

7. What task was accomplished in about one hour by one of my pupils?

8. What language was he studying?

To remember Unfamiliar English Words or FOREIGN WORDS, correlate the Definition as the BEST KNOWN to the Unfamiliar or Foreign Word, and memorise the Correlation. In the case of Foreign Words, the last Intermediate is necessarily a case of Inclusion by sound. Sometimes there is In. by sight or by sound between a part or the whole of the English word, and a part or the whole of its Foreign equivalent, as _Ap_ple--_ap_fel [German]. Of course, the pupil will not need the aid of a correlation in such cases if he notice the a.n.a.lytic relation. The French word _Anach.o.r.ete_ might have for its equivalent by sound either "_Anna_," or "_Core_," or "_Ate_," or "_Anna goes late_," or "_Ann a core ate_," or "_Anna's cold hate_," and perhaps to some of my readers it would seem like something else. _Cravache_ might sound like "_Crack of lash_." Pupils often disagree as to what is good Inclusion by sound; let each use what suits himself, and not trouble about other people's ears. _In. by sound, or by sense, or by spelling_, is sufficient even if it refers to _only one syllable_.

ENGLISH. INTERMEDIATES. GREEK.

Merchant ... market ... emporium ... ?p????

Move ... move on ... next stage ... next-of-kin ... ?????

True ... naked truth ... pith of the matter ... pithy ... p??a???

Course ... coa.r.s.e hair ... camel hair ... dromedary ... d????

Servant ... light fare ... dole out [maid ... bride ... dowry] ... d?????

Tanner ... leather ... leather purse ... disburse ... ??se??

Cup ... tea-cup ... tea-pot ... p?t?????

Fetters ... criminal ... desperate ... des??

Fragile ... thin ... rapier ... "thrust us" ... ??a?st??

---- gla.s.s houses ... "throw stones" ---- Fruit ... fruit-knife ... fish-knife ... carp ... ?a?p??

Round ... fat ... stout ... strong ... st????????

Bride ... fair ... fairy ... forest nymph ... ??f?

Pearl ... Necklace ... sweetheart ... Sweet Margery ... a??a??t??

Bread ... baker ... baker's art ... ??t??

Marry ... lottery of life ... risky game ... ?a??

Join ... engaged--[suited ... apt] ... apt to disagree ...?pt?

Culprit ... cull ... select a few ... few gone ... fe????

Milk ... milky way ... galaxy ... ???a Drink ... water ... small leak ... pinhole ... p???

Suffer hunger ... ng of hunger ... pining away ... pe????

Time ... watch ... chronometer ... ??????

---- Father Time ... old age ... old crony ---- Deliver ... capture ... la.s.so ... ?pa?a.s.s?

Spread ... Christmas feast ... deck a church ...

dye a spire ... d?aspe???

Uncover ... bare ... bare foot ... a Kaliph's toe ... ???a??pt?

Shut ... shut out ... severe weather ... bad climate ... ??e??

I judge ... condemn ... refute ... refuse ... cry "no" ... ?????

Found ... establish ... fix ... fasten thus ... tie so ... ?t???

Soldier ... art of war ... strategy ... st?at??t??

1. In the case of Foreign words, what must the last intermediate necessarily be a case of?

2. Do pupils always agree on a good In. by S.?

3. What is sufficient, if it refers to one syllable only?

4. What are you never to do in getting at an English word?

5. What may you do in getting at a Foreign word?

6. Could you not omit "camel hair"?

7. Could you not omit "leather," which follows "tanner"?

8. Could you not omit after "cup" the word "tea-cup"?

9. Is not "tea-pot" connected by Con. with "cup"?

10. After "bread" could you not omit "baker"?

11. Are not "bread" and "baker's art" connected?

12. Could you not omit "watch," after "Time"?

ENGLISH. INTERMEDIATES. LATIN.

Heart ... heart-sick ... fainting ... cordial ... cor Wickedness ... dishonesty ... blackmail ... malum Book ... printed thoughts ... freedom of thought ...

liberty ... liber ---- ... books ... library ... ---- Breast ... front ... front view ... aspect ... pectus Spear ... thrust ... quick motion ... hasty ... hasta Suitor ... princely suitor ... married by proxy ... procus Ask ... borrow ... swindle ... rogue ... rogare Marrow ... Old English arrow ... victory ... medal ... medulla Captain ... head of hundred ... century ... centurio Surveyor ... measure ... dimension ... agrimensor Furniture ... bent-wood chairs ... bent legs ... supple legs ... supellex Vine ... wine ... luxury ... pampered ... pampinus Liar ... false pretence ... mendicant ... mendax Cow ... cow-pox ... vaccination ... vacca Sing ... boatman's song ... canoe ... cano Kill ... kill by hanging ... broken neck ... necare Redden ... blush ... kissing ... ruby lips ... rubesco ---- red ... ruby ... ---- Dry ... dry mouth ... feverish ... sick ... siccus Man ... married man ... home ... h.o.m.o War ... victory ... rejoicings ... bells rung ... bellum Rob ... robber ... hue-and-cry ... policeman's rap ... rapto Tanner ... russet leather ... russet apple ... apple core ... coriarius Dove ... married love ... United States ... Columbia ... columba Bench ... table ... shop counter ... selling ... subsellium Oar ... Roman galley ... Rome ... Romulus and Remus ... Remus Garret ... unhealthy ... medicine ... salts and senna ... cenaculum Garret ... store-room ... grain store ... granaria Horse ... race ... dead heat ... equal ... equus c.o.c.k ... spurring ... goading ... galling ... gallus Lazy ... tramp ... knave ... ignavus Make heavy ... rich food ... gravy ... gravo Sign ... musical signs ... notes ... nota Poverty ... drafty garret ... sleeping draught ...

opium ... inopia Messenger ... news ... false news ... nonsense ... nuntius Top ... high perch ... hen's perch ... cackle ... cac.u.men Face ... bare face ... bare headed bird ... vulture ... vultus Useless ... needless impatience ... irritation ... irritus Dark ... dark staircase ... insecure ... obscurus Writer ... bad writer ... scribbler ... scriba Harvest ... harvest home ... "Mrs. at home?" ... messis Dog ... dog's tail ... tin can ...

[cane carrier ... cane[I]] ... canis Egg ... boiled egg ... boiled hard ... over boiled ... ovum Fox ... jackall ... carca.s.s ... vulture ... vulpes Bread ... sweat of brow ... labour ... pain ...

[bread-pan ... pan[I]] ... panis Table ... figures ... calculation ... mensuration ... mensa Master ... schoolboard ... fines ... magistrate ... magister Tree ... mast ... s.h.i.+p ... harbour ... arbor Mother ... wife ... helpmeet ... help-mate ... mater

[I] In some English schools the first syllable in "panis" sounds "pan,"

in others "pain." If an English word derived from a foreign word (or from the same root) occurs to you, use it; but do not spend time hunting for derivations. Unfamiliar words are no help; do not think the word "panification" will help you to "panis," because it is an English word meaning "bread-making," and you are an Englishman. You would be much wiser to try to remember the English "panification" by the aid of the Latin "panis," than _vice-versa_, that is, if any mortal ever does want to remember that pedantic dictionary word.

1. If "mendicants" are known to be liars, why could not "false pretences" be omitted?

2. If "vaccination" means inoculating with "cowpox," why could not "cowpox" be omitted?

3. If "broken" neck means a violent death, why not omit "kill by hanging"?

4. Ought not "billing and cooing" to be inserted after "Dove"?

5. What relation is there between "married love" and "United States"?

6. If "musical" be added to "notes," why could not "musical signs"

be omitted?

7. If "scribbler" is a writer, why could not "bad writer" be omitted?

ENGLISH. INTERMEDIATES. GERMAN.

Joy ... play-day ... free day ... Friday ... Freude Sad ... tomb ... mason ... trowel ... traurig Clear ... clear tones ... clarionet ... klar Indolent ... "lazy bones" ... lazy la.s.s ... la.s.sig Dangerous ... storm ... steamboat fare ... gefahrlich Part ... part of house ... roof ... tile ... Theil Empty ... hollow ... fox's hole ... lair ... leer Take ... take husband ... new name ... nehmen Diffidence ... shy girl ... schoolgirl ... Miss ... Misstrauen Little ... grow less ... on the wane ... wenig Much ... more ... mourn ... feel grief ... viel Recompense ... repayment ... loan ... Lohn Question ... answer ... fragmentary answer ... Frage Foot-stool ... low ... shame ... Schemel Pressure ... too heavy ... droop ... Druck Voice ... voice lozenges ... stimulation ... Stimme Child ... young kindred ... Kind Threaten ... stinging words ... stinging bee ... drone ... drohen Mirror ... reflect ... think ... speak ... Spiegel Beetroot ... red heart ... rib ... Rube Potato ... dig up ... remove ... cart off ... Kartoffel Love ... lovers' meeting ... meat ...

Liebig's extract ... Liebe Campaign ... pain ... feel ... felt ... Feldzug Medicine ... science ... arts ... (_pr._ artsnei) Arznei Evening ... hour of prayer ... bend the knee ... Abend Heaven ... angels ... harps ... hymns ... Himmel Song ... choir ... choir leader ... lead ... Lied Table ... soiled table cloth ... dirtyish ... Tisch ---- ... dinner ... dish ... ---- Chair ... chairman ... session ... Sessel Bottle ... Leyden jar ... electric spark ... flash ... Flasche Beloved ... attached ... hooked ... trout ... traut

1. Could not "boiled hard" be omitted?

2. If we use "mensuration tables," could not "figures ...

calculation" be spared?

3. What is the relation between "Tree" and "mast"?

4. Could not "lazy bones" be omitted after "indolent"?

5. Why could not "schoolgirl" be omitted?

6. Why could not "answer" be omitted after "question"?

ENGLISH. INTERMEDIATES. FRENCH.

Fat ... Fat ox ... clover ... rich gra.s.s ... gras Mouth ... Flesh eater ... butcher ... bouche Asphalt ... a.s.saftida ... fish bait ... beton To lash ... circus ... Hengler ... cingler Current ... nerve current ... vague function ... vagus Armchair ... reclining ... gouty ... foot oil ... fauteuil ---- ... arm ... leg ... foot ... ---- Railway station ... railway guard ... guard ... gare Smoke ... tobacco ... smell ... perfumer ... fumer Carpet ... fine design ... tapestry ... tapis Head ... foot ... root ... potato ... tete Oar ... boat ... war-s.h.i.+p ... ram ...

[See Latin] ... rame Tears ... hysterics ... fainting fit ... alarm ... larmes Canvas ... rope ... oak.u.m ... hard labor ... toil ... toile Wave ... was.h.i.+ng ... unwashed ... vagabond ... vague ---- ... current ... nerve current ... vagus ... ---- Bed ... bed of sea ... sea-sh.o.r.e ... lee-sh.o.r.e ... lit Pane ... pain ... sore eyes ... vitriol ... vitre ---- ... gla.s.s ... vitreous ... ---- Gun ... gunsmith ... spark ... fusee ... fusil ---- ... foot soldier ... fusilier ... ---- Shovel ... shoved about ... crowd ... Pall Mall ... pelle ---- ... sand ... spade ... pail ... ---- Side-walk ... walking fast ... trotting along ... trottoir ---- ... mid road ... horses ... trotting ... ---- Dirty ... second-hand furniture ... furniture ...

sale ... sale Faithful ... dog-blind fiddler ... fiddle ... fidele ---- ... faithfulness ... fidelity ... ---- Pity ... pitying ... misery ... misericorde Misfortune ... missing train ... mail hour ... malheur Hang fire ... fire engine ... "haste" ... tear along too ... faire longfeu Star ... diamond ... ball dress ... toilet ... etoile ---- ... Star ... Inn ... hotel ... ---- Cake ... cheesecake ... mouse ... cat ... gateau Sword ... soldier ... soldier's pay ... epee ---- ... war ... misery ... happy ... ---- Book ... pages ... leaves ... [See Latin] ... livre Castle ... ruined ... shattered ... chateau To speak ... converse ... dispute ... parley ... parler