What have you committed to solid memory? The value of memorization

[amorphous_constellation]

Could be anything.. history facts, languages, whatever. Math equations.. I was thinking of trying to memorize roman emperors just for fun I guess.

Usually when I read books, I don't commit lines to memory, but just sort of make a mental note of places / chapters that were interesting, or make highlights . Memorization happens sometimes incidentally, in this case

What utility do you gain from your memorization?

I have read through this wild-life guide of my state's birds and trees, but other than learning some new facts on a few things, most of these books I haven't memorized, and so I wouldn't be able to identify that many new organisms unless I did more work

I have memorized some music theory, since I am a player. I am not a sight-reader though

Do you find that memorization of stuff makes a person more interesting.. does it make you feel smarter I guess, does it sort of supply you with more of a pool from which to think thoughts / do things, or does that come from elsewhere?

 

[Jayhawker Soule]

I forget ...

 

[amorphous_constellation]

I forget ...

come on.. you must know something

 

[Debater Slayer]

Could be anything.. history facts, languages, whatever. Math equations.. I was thinking of trying to memorize roman emperors just for fun I guess.

Usually when I read books, I don't commit lines to memory, but just sort of make a mental note of places / chapters that were interesting, or make highlights . Memorization happens sometimes incidentally, in this case

What utility do you gain from your memorization?

Mainly expanding my vocabulary in both my native language and English.

I have memorized some music theory, since I am a player. I am not a sight-reader though

Nice! What instrument or instruments do you play?

Do you find that memorization of stuff makes a person more interesting..

It mostly depends on how they incorporate it into their conversational skills and overall perspectives. A know-it-all who interrupts others or overexplains things to them due to assuming that they're ignorant or dumb, or one who memorizes facts to impress others but doesn't bother trying to understand or learn from those facts, usually isn't interesting (at least not in a good way), but someone who is knowledgeable is usually pretty cool to talk to if their basic social skills and manners (e.g., friendliness, respectfulness, good listening, showing at least some interest in others instead of only talking about oneself, etc.) are decent.

does it make you feel smarter I guess,

I don't think of it in terms of whether it makes me smarter, so that hasn't crossed my mind. It always feels satisfying when I learn something new or achieve a goal by learning, though.

does it sort of supply you with more of a pool from which to think thoughts / do things,

Definitely, and this is especially true when I think or have my inner monologue in different languages. I have read many times that thinking in a different language can give a different perspective on the world, and I fully agree with that. The fact that certain concepts have specific words to describe them in some languages but not others—like weltschmerz and ennui—seems to me an example of this.

or does that come from elsewhere?

For me, it comes both from the above and from elsewhere. I don't think it has just one source.

 

[Spice]

I didn't realize it until a funeral I attended last month, but I still know Psalms 23. And of course I know the Lord's Prayer, though I don't say it anymore. But my memory all in all is pretty much shot unless something is drawn out by complete surprise. Then I'm happily amazed! LOL

 

[Spice]

Definitely, and this is especially true when I think or have my inner monologue in different languages. I have read many times that thinking in a different language can give a different perspective on the world, and I fully agree with that.

I've been trying to learn Spanish for nearly a year now, and I do have those inner monologues from time to time. I just don't remember to check, when I have time, to see if I recalled the vocabulary and sentence structure correctly. I could be developing some very bad habits.

 

[ChristineM]

Could be anything.. history facts, languages, whatever. Math equations.. I was thinking of trying to memorize roman emperors just for fun I guess.

Usually when I read books, I don't commit lines to memory, but just sort of make a mental note of places / chapters that were interesting, or make highlights . Memorization happens sometimes incidentally, in this case

What utility do you gain from your memorization?

I have read through this wild-life guide of my state's birds and trees, but other than learning some new facts on a few things, most of these books I haven't memorized, and so I wouldn't be able to identify that many new organisms unless I did more work

I have memorized some music theory, since I am a player. I am not a sight-reader though

Do you find that memorization of stuff makes a person more interesting.. does it make you feel smarter I guess, does it sort of supply you with more of a pool from which to think thoughts / do things, or does that come from elsewhere?

I've remembered lots of irrelevant facts making me a wizz at trivia but pretty boring in the rest of life.

I memorised all the tens of thousands of options on several graphics programmes. Made me good at my work but who else wants to know about rigging and skinning computer models?

I took the most used 1000 words from the NYT list, translated them to french with Google translate then commited them to memory. I then picked up every day speaking French from there. Personally i think its a great way to learn a language

Learning stuff and remembering it is a lifelong task.

 

[ChristineM]

I've been trying to learn Spanish for nearly a year now, and I do have those inner monologues from time to time. I just don't remember to check, when I have time, to see if I recalled the vocabulary and sentence structure correctly. I could be developing some very bad habits.

Try the method i used for french. It worked for me.
Several newspapers give a list of the most used words used in their publications. Mostly very common, everyday words

 

[Jayhawker Soule]

Do you find that memorization of stuff makes a person more interesting.. does it make you feel smarter I guess, does it sort of supply you with more of a pool from which to think thoughts / do things, or does that come from elsewhere?

I have never been particularly adept at memorization, and aging contributes to the problem. I compensate by being reasonably good at researching things and (IMO) extremely good at knowing what I don't know.

 

[ImmortalFlame]

The release year of the first Star Wars movie is so firmly lodged in my head that whenever I hear about an event dated even remotely close to it I remember it in terms of how many years before or after Star Wars it was.

Documentary: Malcolm X was assassinated while giving a speech in Harlem in 1965.
My Brain: Malcolm X died 12 years before Star Wars (BSW).

 

[Spice]

Try the method i used for french. It worked for me.
Several newspapers give a list of the most used words used in their publications. Mostly very common, everyday words

I use Duolingo. I tried several different methods before and this is working for me rather well. I wish I had more opportunity to use it without deep embarrassment. My brain did function well enough at the grocery store the other day to say "excuse me" correctly.

 

[ChristineM]

I use Duolingo. I tried several different methods before and this is working for me rather well. I wish I had more opportunity to use it without deep embarrassment. My brain did function well enough at the grocery store the other day to say "excuse me" correctly.

I've tried it to attempt to improve my french pronunciation.
It's quite good but nothing will cure a broad east Lancashire (uk) accent when speaking what is really quite melodious french.

 

[Altfish]

Could be anything.. history facts, languages, whatever. Math equations.. I was thinking of trying to memorize roman emperors just for fun I guess.

Usually when I read books, I don't commit lines to memory, but just sort of make a mental note of places / chapters that were interesting, or make highlights . Memorization happens sometimes incidentally, in this case

What utility do you gain from your memorization?

I have read through this wild-life guide of my state's birds and trees, but other than learning some new facts on a few things, most of these books I haven't memorized, and so I wouldn't be able to identify that many new organisms unless I did more work

I have memorized some music theory, since I am a player. I am not a sight-reader though

Do you find that memorization of stuff makes a person more interesting.. does it make you feel smarter I guess, does it sort of supply you with more of a pool from which to think thoughts / do things, or does that come from elsewhere?

Times Tables up to 12
The Lords Prayer - yes, indoctrination works.
Some Latin verbs and nouns (ditto French)

 

[Kathryn]

For various weird reasons, I know the following by heart:

Twas Brillig
Henry V's speech about St. Crispin's Day
CS Lewis' opening to The Voyage of the Dawn Treader, about Eustace Clarence Scrubb and him almost deserving that name.

 

[amorphous_constellation]

Mainly expanding my vocabulary in both my native language and English.

You seem really good with English

Nice! What instrument or instruments do you play?

guitar, piano, violin, and some other guitar-type instruments. I've been working on a couple jazz pieces on the piano lately, though I'm not the hugest fan of jazz. But there are some maneuvers in the genre to learn about, so sometimes I try to play some of it.

I worked up a version of "The Chicken" on piano, by Jaco Pastorius. It seemed like it could be a good left-hand exercise. Also I was trying to explore a couple tunes by Thelonious Monk, and I can do a version of 'Ruby my Dear,' but I don't know enough about Monk's own chord voicings / rhythms to sound that authentic. I suppose I should try to use some of his particular voicings, which are not like the ones I use

On the fiddle I play Appalachian folk songs

It mostly depends on how they incorporate it into their conversational skills and overall perspectives. A know-it-all who interrupts others or overexplains things to them due to assuming that they're ignorant or dumb, or one who memorizes facts to impress others but doesn't bother trying to understand or learn from those facts, usually isn't interesting (at least not in a good way), but someone who is knowledgeable is usually pretty cool to talk to if their basic social skills and manners (e.g., friendliness, respectfulness, good listening, showing at least some interest in others instead of only talking about oneself, etc.) are decent.

To me it is kind of context dependent with that. If nothing's at stake, I probably will space out before I get offended by that. If a conversation is just about something abstract, and therefore something that doesn't have the most tangible effect on my life, then it doesn't matter too much to me.

If listening to another person is in the context of tangible actions, then that's where this kind of thing might get annoying. Like if it happens in the context of a band, marriage, or something you tangibly do with friends or family. However, I usually think it's best to give the person some degree of liberty if they really know something that I need to know. If I am doing some mechanic work in the factory on a press, or doing some kind of construction work, and I could lose on an arm if I don't do it like they say, then I don't mind others being stern with me

A problem is, is that criticism from others, when I'm trying to learn things, often doesn't inspire confidence in me. But I would prefer to learn from 'the best' if I could. For example, if I wanted to be a chef, I'd want to learn from Gordon Ramsay. But I don't think he'd tolerate me for long

 

[Audie]

Could be anything.. history facts, languages, whatever. Math equations.. I was thinking of trying to memorize roman emperors just for fun I guess.

Usually when I read books, I don't commit lines to memory, but just sort of make a mental note of places / chapters that were interesting, or make highlights . Memorization happens sometimes incidentally, in this case

What utility do you gain from your memorization?

I have read through this wild-life guide of my state's birds and trees, but other than learning some new facts on a few things, most of these books I haven't memorized, and so I wouldn't be able to identify that many new organisms unless I did more work

I have memorized some music theory, since I am a player. I am not a sight-reader though

Do you find that memorization of stuff makes a person more interesting.. does it make you feel smarter I guess, does it sort of supply you with more of a pool from which to think thoughts / do things, or does that come from elsewhere?

Ive memorized about 10,000 Chinese characters

 

[mangalavara]

I took the most used 1000 words from the NYT list, translated them to french with Google translate then commited them to memory. I then picked up every day speaking French from there. Personally i think its a great way to learn a language

I’m going to try this with a list from a different source and using Wiktionary in order learn more Korean.

Thank you for such a useful idea!

 

[amorphous_constellation]

Ive memorized about 10,000 Chinese characters

Wow.. well I know absolutely nothing about that

 

[Nakosis]

Could be anything.. history facts, languages, whatever. Math equations.. I was thinking of trying to memorize roman emperors just for fun I guess.

Usually when I read books, I don't commit lines to memory, but just sort of make a mental note of places / chapters that were interesting, or make highlights . Memorization happens sometimes incidentally, in this case

What utility do you gain from your memorization?

I have read through this wild-life guide of my state's birds and trees, but other than learning some new facts on a few things, most of these books I haven't memorized, and so I wouldn't be able to identify that many new organisms unless I did more work

I have memorized some music theory, since I am a player. I am not a sight-reader though

Do you find that memorization of stuff makes a person more interesting.. does it make you feel smarter I guess, does it sort of supply you with more of a pool from which to think thoughts / do things, or does that come from elsewhere?

I'm not a memory person. I do remember things but this is from rote, constant repetition usually because the knowledge is constantly needed.
Though sometimes, even that gets fuzzy if I've haven't had the need for the knowledge for a while.

I generally have to know the why behind why something is what it is. For some reason I can remember the why better than the what. Just how my brain works. Some people have a photographic memory, not me. Some people you can mention any day, I assume from young adulthood to present and they can tell you exactly what they did that day, what they had for breakfast.

However there are tricks you can employee if you really want to commit something to memory. What to you gain from it? Well you can impress people. Otherwise, I'm not sure.

I don't usually commit something to memory, I mean I don't put effort into it. Either I naturally understand it, or if it is knowledge of something constantly required it's done by rote anyway.