M N E M O N I C S
by Jack Korten (Australia)
The word "mnemonic" is derived from the Ancient Greek word Mnemosyne, the name of the goddess of memory in Greek mythology. Mnemonics – a memorisation technique.
In Germany, it is called: "donkey's bridge" (Eselsbrücke).
Donkeys are very afraid of water and refuse to wade through even the smallest streams.
To provide encouragement, a ford or small bridge is built, the "donkey's bridge", which leads to the required result.
Below are a few of the more common mnemonics:
Pangram (i.e. using every letter of the alphabet)
pack my box with five dozen liquor jugs
Calendar months
Thirty days hath September, April, June, and November.
All the rest have thirty-one, Except for February all alone,
It has twenty-eight each year, but twenty-nine each leap year.
Astronomy
Order of planets from the Sun:
(Mercury, Venus, Earth, Mars, Jupiter, Saturn, Uranus, Neptune, Pluto)
My Very Easy Method, Just Set Up Nine Planets
Note: Since 24 August 2006, Pluto is known as a dwarf planet.
