FAQ: Memorize Sign Language
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Dear Sir: I was realy pleased to find your website. I am learning British sign language and was wondering if you could tell me which of the memory improvement techniques would be the best for me to use to help me remember the vocabulary, etc.

Will any of them work for a visual language do you think?Any help and advice you can give me will be very much appreciated.

Best regards.

Graham

My Answer:

Hi Graham,

To memorize British (or American) sign language vocabulary, I would use a variation of the Keyword Method.

Let me explain by example:

According to BritishSignLanguage.com, the sign for the word boots is "Both hands held as fists make pulling gesture from waist upwards."

To memorize that sign, I need to visualize an exaggerated, outrageous image that links the keyword ("boots") to the action for the sign. That is the trick to being able to remember the sign easily and for placing it in my long-term memory.

The mental image must be as bizarre or unusual as possible. Everyday, normal images are forgettable. An unusual image, on the other hand, sticks in the brain. Therefore, to memorize sign language vocabulary words, think unusual (and memorable).

So in my mind I first imagine a gigantic pair of boots. These boots are as big as a house or even a mountain. They are just sitting off in a field somewhere, with nothing else around.

When in look into one of the boots, I see it is filled with thousands of human fists. No arms or bodies, just clenched fists. Not in a gruesome way, necessarily, just in a very odd and memorable way.

To effectively memorize sign language using mental images, you must also visualize the image as clearly as you can. Thinking of an unusual image is only the first step.

So examine the texture of the boots in your mind. Are they made of rough leather, perhaps? Are they scuffed or smooth? What color are they, any decorative features on them? Visualize the fists in similar detail as well.

Next we need to connect the action for this sign, which is pulling your two fists upward from the waist, with the unusual mental image we created.

Imagine yourself, perhaps as a giant, reaching down into the two boots and grabbing a handful of fists in your right and left hand. They are kind of squishy, almost like trying to grasp a handful of marshmallows. Next, you stand up and for some reason decide to place the fists under your armpits (perhaps so you can hold them there for safe-keeping).

So you pull your hands (full of the "fists") up past your waist and toward your armpits.

Review this boots/fists image and action in your mind several times until you can picture it easily and clearly. If you are planning to memorize a lot of signs, I suggest writing down each sign and a hint on a cue card (we call them index cards in the U.S., often 3"x5" in size).

That way, once you've memorized a number of signs you can flip through your cards to test yourself. Also the cards will help you remember the images you created in case you forget some of them.

That's it. That's all you need to remember that sign.

Now let's consider a situation where you need to use the sign. First you will think of the term "boots" since that is the word you want to sign. The crazy image of the giant boots should just pop into your mind if you have practiced it enough. Once you think of the giant boots (filled with the giant fists), the action for the sign should immediately come to mind.

Easy, right?

Even though it took me several sentences to explain how to memorize the sign for "boots", you will find that with enough practice you will be able to think of crazy images/actions very quickly. It only took me about 30 seconds to think of the way to memorize the sign for boots I described above.

If you have any more questions about how to memorize sign language, just let me know. Best of luck to you!

Regards, Douglas

His Follow-Up Reply:

Hi Douglas,

What a great idea!! I am sure there are lots of people who will benefit from using your techniques to memorise sign language. I have started already and it seems to be working for me.

I am going to pass on the URL of your website to others in my class. Thanks again for your help and advice.

Best regards, Graham

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