Lesson 3.5: Memorization Tips

This is a sort of in-between non-lesson in the Learning Solresol series of posts, regarding some tips on keeping up with vocabulary. If you want to start at Lesson 1, click here.

A big part of learning Solresol is memorizing words - as with any language, you need to know vocabulary more than grammar to really use it. Because of Solresol's limited set of syllables, it can sound repetitive and confusing as you learn more words. Here are some tips to lock in the vocabulary:

1. Make flashcards! Repetition solidifies what you know. Make a deck of flashcards and go through them as often as you can (try at least once a day). As you learn more words, add to your deck. If your deck gets too big, toss out the ones you know really really well, but come back to them every once in a while. 

A great addition to this technique is the website quizlet.com, which has sets of online flashcards. I maintain a set of Solresol vocabulary words there: http://quizlet.com/group/56348/

Feel free to join it; there will be sets of flashcards to go along with the lessons I post, as well as lots of miscellaneous sets of words.

2. Take advantage of Sudre's organization - remembering that certain words follow alphabetical sequences can help immensely. Solresol was organized to facilitate learning as much as possible. Some of the broader levels of organization only become clear as you build up your vocabulary more, and will be more helpful later on. I will try to point out any organization as often as I can to help you see it, and some other tricks will be the subject of later lessons.

3. Use the stenographic writing to visualize the words. It's much easier to remember pictures (no matter how random the picture is) than random syllables. If you know what a word is 'shaped like', you can figure out what the syllables are. To write a word using this system, just connect the shapes that correspond to the syllables in a general left-to-right and top-to-bottom fashion. If a syllable is repeated, draw a line through it. There are sometimes multiple ways of doing this, but if you follow those general directions it should be correct.

Domilado - to speak

Dosido - to help, aid, or assist

Famisol - to have, possess

Remila - to give

Resolsido - to need, require

Solresol - language

Solsisol - to smile

If you want to read more about Solresol's stenographic script and see more examples, you can check out Omniglot's page on Solresol: http://www.omniglot.com/writing/solresol.htm

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I find the writing system to be the most useful aid to memory, but everyone's mind works differently. If you're musically inclined, remembering the sound patterns of words and singing them may help; if you can remember sequences of colors or numbers best, then do that. Take advantage of the multiple ways Solresol can be expressed - there's more to the language than the syllables.

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When you're ready to go on to Lesson 4, click here.