Transliteration and mnemonics- how to learn new words in a foreign language
Transliteration
One important technique for learning new words is writing out the pronunciation of the new word you are trying to learn in your own way of sounding it out. It is is like your own transliteration. If you sound out a work they way you here it and memorize it this way your pronunciation will be better and you can think of a mnemonic easier.
For example, The Polish word ‘przyszdł’ (meaning he/she came) if you know Polish orthography, its easy to pronounce. But for an English speaker it is impossible unless you hear the word and can transliterate it into your own language, not English, but your personal language. For example, ‘przyszdł’ in to me sounds like ‘pshe shedoo’. This is the way I here it. I do not know how other English speakers would here this but this is the way I do so I write it the way I hear it.
Mnemonics
I can make a mnemonic such as I image she came into a shed to do something . This is one of my technique for learning new words. I transliterate and if necessary make a mnemonic. However, better than a program on mnemonics is, you transliterate and make the mnemonics yourself as you will remember. Its the transliteration process and mnemonics creation process that helps your learn the word.
Tags: How to learn a language, learn, learning, mnemonics, techniques for learning new words, transliteration, words
3 responses to Transliteration and mnemonics – how to learn new words in a foreign language
Hi Mark!
Thank you for your contribution to the Global Voices language discussion:)! Your blog is a lovely place for a language lover like me. More than that, you’re in the language business literally!:)
In my Ukrainian teenage experience of learning English, I relied on intuitive techniques that helped me expand my vocabulary by leaps and bounds. In this regard, I practiced mnemonics long before I learned about it.
Did I hear you talk about your Ukrainian roots:)?
@Taras, Yes I am Ukrainian. I am Polish and Ukrainian actaully and am American that lives in Kraków, and my favorate place to be is Ukraine. My family is from Ternopil. Ukraine is an amazing country, I just keep getting back to it.
Your right, intuitve ways of learning are the best as you think of techniques and methods that work for you. Some people learn by music, other by mnemonics but everyone must find their own way with learning a language and find a technique where they can learn lots of vocabulary.
Many people say they just ‘picked up a language because it was in the air’. I teach and learn languages and I do not believe it. You can not just pick up a language because its in the air unless its a language very close to your native language. To learn a language you have to know about 5000 words at least. And you must know these words like a reflex. Then lots of grammar. This does not come because ‘its in the air’. Its comes from finding a method of learning that works. Using your own intuition about what techniques for learning a language are fun and useful for you.
Hmm… Not sure if this technique is working.
The word is “przyszedł” and it means HE came. She came is “przyszła” in polish.
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