Such an interesting idea. I will test it this fall.
Application Of Keyword Mnemonics To Learning Terminology The College Classroom - Research and Read Books, Journals, Articles at Questia Online Library:
"Keyword mnemonics is based on a dual code theory, which suggests that information may be stored in memory in two forms: verbal codes and image codes ( Paivio, 1971). The method consists of a two-stage process for memorizing definitions of words. The first stage (verbal) involves association of an unfamiliar word with a familiar word, called a keyword or audionym, which sounds like some part or all of the unfamiliar vocabulary word. The next stage (visual) involves forming or being presented with a mental image of an interaction of the keyword with the unfamiliar word. For example, to remember that 'gastr' means stomach, one couick use 'gas truck' as a key word since it sounds like 'gastr.' Then the image of a gas truck is pictured (or imagined) with a huge stomach on its truck bed. Thus, 'gastr' is associated with its definition of 'stomach' ( Vaughn, 1981), and this associability facilitates storage of the information in memory ( Bellezza, 1981)."
