Psycholinguistic Perspective on How to Memorize Vocabulary
Declarative Memory and Procedural Memory
As you might know already, I am a linguist, and I like sharing my knowledge to make language learning easier. So let me tell you that, when memorizing vocabulary, its essential to distinguish between procedural memory and declarative memory.
Procedural memory allows to automatically use language without having to think about every step. It makes using grammar correctly, pronouncing words right, and using phrases naturally much smoother.
Declarative memory allows you to remember specific information about the language, such as remembering words and what they mean, that is, the language vocabulary.
When it comes to learning new vocabulary, as well as, irregular words, you will be using the declarative part of your memory, because you have to learn that a certain word has a certain form no matter what.
Cognitive Load Management
The concept of cognitive load management is grounded in understanding of how human working memory operates: it has a limited capacity and can only hold a finite amount of information at any given time.
When you are learning a new language, especially when you are acquiring vocabulary, trying to absorb too many new words simultaneously can push the boundaries of this capacity, leading to cognitive overload.
To make learning more efficient, my advice is to break study sessions into shorter, focused intervals. This method has been proven to be efficient as it takes advantage of how the brain encodes and processes information.
This segmented approach is called Pomodoro technique, and was invented by the Italian Francesco Cirillo in the late 1980s. It involves dividing study time into intervals of 25 minutes separated by short breaks.
It works by aligning study periods with the brain’s natural attention span: during these focused sprints, cognitive resources are used to their fullest capacity but not strained beyond their limit.
Furthermore, breaking learning into manageable segments helps in transferring information from working memory to long-term memory more effectively, process that is crucial for long-term retention and recall.
Neural Pathways and Multisensory Input
When learning new vocabulary in a foreign language, tapping into multiple sensory modalities, like sight, sound, and touch, engages different regions of the brain, creating a network of neural connections that support memory.
This process of multisensory input involves stimulating various senses to reinforce the information that you are learning, making it easier for the brain to access and retrieve that information later.
Visual input is a powerful memory enhancer, and personally, it is the one I rely on the most. Of course, it is subjective: I just happen to be a very visual person.
But the more senses involved in the learning process, the more pathways are established: this approach ensures that if one pathway is less accessible during recall, others can compensate, improving the robustness of memory.
Experts’ Tips on How to Memorize Vocabulary
Bartosz Czekala: Encode and Retrieve When you Fail to Recall
Bartosz Czekala is a polyglot and memory expert. He emphasizes paying attention to moments when you fail to recall a word, and treating this failure as feedback, as it signals you haven’t sufficiently encoded the word or encountered it enough.
He advises encoding the word again in different scenarios: the more overlap between encoding and retrieval, the smoother the recall process will be.
“If you fail to recall words, make sure that you encode them again in different contexts.”
-Bartosz Czekala
Katie Kermode: Visualize Scenarios to Remember a Word
Katie Kermode is a UK memory champion. She advocates using visualization to link new words with similar-sounding phrases in your native language. To do this, create a memorable sentence or scene involving the word and place it in a familiar mental location.
Unconsciously, this is the method I applied to study for my geographic linguistic exam during the bachelor! Imagine having to learn all the linguistic families and the geographic areas where those languages were spoken!
This mental image solidifies the connection and aids recall. Regularly reviewing these scenes with spaced repetition enhances retention.
“Create a short sentence or scene linking a word in your native language similar to the term you are learning.”
-Katie Kermode
Katie Kermode is a memory athlete from the UK, competing since 2008, a freelance translator, memory coach, UK memory champion on four occasions. and holds the title IAM Grandmaster of Memory (Silver).
Sushant Mysorekar: Have Several Interests to Understand Vocabulary
Sushant Mysorekar is an intelligence coach who emphasizes that interest and attention are essential for effective memory retention, referring to them as the “mother and father” of memory.
To enhance vocabulary learning, he developed the SAB-CINEMAS method, a multi-sensory approach that involves creating scenes, making unusual associations, and animating words to engage different senses such as sight, sound, and taste.
The SAB-CINEMAS method includes:
- S: Create a scene involving the word.
- A: Associate it with similar sounds or related concepts.
- B: Make a bizarre, memorable story.
- C: Use color to highlight the intensity of the word.
- I: Imagine using the word with expressions and mouth movements.
- N: Incorporate numbers or sounds from other languages.
- E: Add expressions to enhance recall.
- M: Link the word to yourself with a tag or phrase for better retention.
- A: Animate the word through drawings or doodles.
- S: Engage all senses consciously.
This comprehensive approach ensures that learning goes beyond mere memorization to deep, sensory-based understanding.
“Interest and attention are the mother and father of memory.”
– Sushant Mysorekar
Sushant Mysorekar is an author and Internationally Certified Intelligence Coach and the author of ‘Super Power Memory for Busy Professionals and ‘Super Tips for Super Memory’, 2019.
John Graham: use the Linking Method
John Graham is a Grandmaster of Memory and 2018 USA Memory Champion. He advocates for the Linking Method, a memory technique that involves creating simple visual stories to connect foreign words with their meanings.
For instance, to remember the Italian word vento (wind), imagine wind blowing through a vent. This method works by associating the sound of a foreign word with familiar concepts to create a vivid mental image.
It may not be necessary for every word, but for me it is particularly effective to retain challenging vocabulary that doesn’t easily stick.
“Creating a simple, visual story with the Linking Method.”
– John Graham
John Graham is the 2018 USA Memory Champion and a Grandmaster of Memory.
Nishant Kasibhatla: When Learning is fun, it is Easy
Nishant Kasibhatla is a Guinness Record Holder and Grand Master of Memory. He emphasizes the power of combining visualization, association, and fun for effective vocabulary memorization.
As you know already, visualization involves creating mental images of the word, while association links it to familiar concepts. Incorporating fun into this process makes learning enjoyable and helps with retention.
“One of the best ways to memorize words in a new language is to use a combination of Visualisation, Association and Fun.”
– Nishant Kasibhatla
Nishant Kasibhatla is a Grand Master of Memory, a Guinness Record Holder in Memory (2011), and also a creator of the “Supercharge Your Memory Power” Online Course.
Francis Blondin: use Memory Techniques
Francis Blondin is a two-time Canadian memory champion. He advocates using mnemonics for difficult words, emphasizing that even imperfect tricks can aid initial memorization.
He underscores that while mnemonics may not be necessary for simpler words, they are powerful for more complex ones. Consistent use makes these techniques more intuitive and enjoyable.
He also highlights essential practices for memory retention, including prioritizing adequate sleep, maintaining focused study periods, applying retrieval practice, and using spaced repetition.
“The more you use tricks, the easier and the more fun it becomes.”
– Francis Blondin
Francis Blondin is a two-time Canadian memory champion. He teaches what he knows about memory and learning for free in French and English. He’s also organizing various memory and mental math competitions in Canada and online for anyone worldwide.
Dr. Boris Nikolai Konrad: use a Memory Palace
Dr. Boris Nikolai Konrad is a globally recognized memory coach and Guinness World Record holder. He advocates combining the keyword mnemonic technique with retrieval practice.
This involves associating the new word with a familiar image and linking it to its translation.
“I look for an image for a new word reminding me of a known word. I then combine my image with the translation.”
– Dr. Boris Nikolai Konrad
Dr. Boris Nikolai Konrad is a world-known memory coach and a four times Guinness World Record Holder.
Edward Cooke: Learning Must Fit Into Your Life Easily
Edward Cooke is a world-renowned memory coach. He emphasizes that effective language learning should seamlessly integrate into daily life.
Begin by considering when you have time to learn, your motivation, and whether independent learning suits you. The key is to immerse yourself in the language through varied forms of input to maintain motivation and learn at your own pace.
Practical methods include watching movies and TV series (with or without subtitles), listening to music while following lyrics, engaging with audiobooks and podcasts, and reading children’s books to build foundational vocabulary and structure.
“The key to language immersion is to input your target language in different forms.”
– Edward Cooke
Edward Cooke is a world memory coach and an award-winning memory and language, coach.
Memorize new Italian Words, now!
Memorizing vocabulary in a new language can be challenging, but understanding how the brain encodes and retrieves information can make the process more effective.
Each memory technique has unique strengths and is suited for different types of learning: visualization is great for concrete nouns, while the Linking Method works well for abstract terms.
I want to underline that cultural context plays a role, too: techniques like mnemonic storytelling may appeal more to learners from cultures with oral traditions, making tools like the memory palace feel more natural to use.
Additionally, a tip I always give my students is understanding word origins. It helps you see the connections between words and their meanings.
For instance, by knowing the history of the Italian language, that is, where words come from, you can link terms to familiar roots or related words, making it easier to remember and understand.
I might be biased because I am a linguist, but this deeper approach really provides a mental anchor, making recall more intuitive and less reliant on rote memorization.
