While this might seem like a strange word, the four-tuple is just a phrase for the four primary representational classes: auditory, visual, kinesthetic, and olfactory (A, V, K, O). For each of these classes, we can add a subscript “i” when we want to describe an internalized experience, that is, an experience we remember or imagine, and a subscript “e” when we want to describe an externalized experience, that is, an experience that is currently happening.

The four-tuple system is not widely used in NLP today, and it has also been expanded to include consciousness and a person’s most highly valued representational system. But the concept of the four-tuple is a good one to keep in mind when studying a person’s representational systems.

Try having someone tell you about their weekend, paying close attention to their four-tuple. This should tell you a lot about their coding system and their different cognitive strategies.

V - Visual

Ve - Visual external (physical perception of sight)

Vi - Visual internal (imagery, mind’s eye)

A - Auditory

Ae - Auditory external (physical perception of sound) Ai - Auditory internal (inner voice, thoughts)

At - Auditory tonal (tone, sound, music)

Ad - Auditory digital (the words)

Adi - Auditory digital internal (self-talk)

K - Kinesthetic (physical sensations)

Kv - Kinesthetic visceral (inside feeling, e.g. “butterflies” or warm stomach)

Kt - Kinesthetic tactile / touch, skin sensation

Ke - Kinesthetic perceptions - emotions

O - Olfactory