Yan tan tethera

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Yan Tan Tethera or yan-tan-tethera is a sheep-counting system traditionally used by shepherds in Northern England and some other parts of Britain. [1] The words are numbers taken from Brythonic Celtic languages such as Cumbric which had died out in most of Northern England by the sixth century, but they were commonly used for sheep counting and counting stitches in knitting until the Industrial Revolution, especially in the fells of the Lake District. Though most of these number systems fell out of use by the turn of the 20th century, some are still in use.

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Origin and development

Sheep-counting systems ultimately derive from Brythonic Celtic languages, such as Cumbric; Tim Gay writes: “[Sheep-counting systems from all over the British Isles] all compared very closely to 18th-century Cornish and modern Welsh". [2] It is impossible, given the corrupted form in which they have survived, to be sure of their exact origin. The counting systems have changed considerably over time. A particularly common tendency is for certain pairs of adjacent numbers to come to resemble each other by rhyme (notably the words for 1 and 2, 3 and 4, 6 and 7, or 8 and 9). Still, multiples of five tend to be fairly conservative; compare bumfit with Welsh pymtheg, in contrast with standard English fifteen.

Use in sheep counting

Like most Celtic numbering systems, they tend to be vigesimal (based on the number twenty), but they usually lack words to describe quantities larger than twenty; this is not a limitation of either modernised decimal Celtic counting systems or the older ones. To count a large number of sheep, a shepherd would repeatedly count to twenty, placing a mark on the ground, or move a hand to another mark on a shepherd's crook, or drop a pebble into a pocket to represent each score (e.g. 5 score sheep = 100 sheep).

Importance of keeping count

In order to keep accurate records (e.g. of birth and death) and to be alert to instances of straying, shepherds must perform frequent head-counts of their flocks. Dating back at least to the medieval period, and continuing to the present in some areas like Slaidburn, farms were granted fell rights, allowing them access to common grazing land. To prevent overgrazing, it was vitally important for each farm to keep accurate, updated head-counts. Though fell rights are largely obsolete in modern agriculture except in upland areas, farms are often subsidised and taxed according to the quantity of their sheep. For this reason, accurate counts are still necessary, and must be performed frequently.

Generally, a count is the first action performed in the morning and the last action performed at night. A count is made after moving the sheep from one pasture to another, and after any operation involving the sheep, such as shearing, tagging, foot-trimming, mulesing, etc., although sheep are far less likely to stray while being moved in a group rather than when grazing at large on open ground.

Knitting

Their use is also attested in a "knitting song" known to be sung around the middle of the nineteenth century in Wensleydale, Yorkshire, beginning "yahn, tayhn, tether, mether, mimph". [3]

Modern usage

The counting system has been used for products sold within Northern England, such as prints, [4] beers, [5] alcoholic sparkling water (hard seltzer in U.S.), [6] and yarns, [7] as well as in artistic works referencing the region, such as Harrison Birtwistle's 1986 opera Yan Tan Tethera .

Jake Thackray's song "Old Molly Metcalfe" [8] from his 1972 album Bantam Cock uses the Swaledale "Yan Tan Tether Mether Pip" as a repeating lyrical theme.

Yan or yen

The word yan or yen for 'one' in Cumbrian, Northumbrian, and some Yorkshire dialects generally represents a regular development in Northern English in which the Old English long vowel /ɑː/ <ā> was broken into /ie/, /ia/ and so on. This explains the shift to yan and ane from the Old English ān, which is itself derived from the Proto-Germanic *ainaz. [9] [10] Another example of this development is the Northern English word for 'home', hame, which has forms such as hyem, yem and yam all deriving from the Old English hām. [11]

Systems by region

Yorkshire and Lancashire

Number Bowland Rathmell Nidderdale Swaledale Wharfedale Teesdale Wensleydale
1YainAenYainYanYanYanYain
2TainTaenTainTanTanTeanTain
3EdderaTetheraEdderoTetherTetherTetherEddero
4PedderaFetheraPedderoMetherMetherPeddero
5PitPhubsPittsPipPipPitts
6TayterAaytherTayterAzerLezarTayter
7LayterLayatherLayterSezarAzarLater
8OveraQuoatherOveroAkkerCatrahOverro
9CoveraQuaatherCoveroConterBornaCoverro
10DixDugsDixDickDickDisc
11Yain-a-dixAena dugsYaindixYanadickYan-a-dickYain disc
12Tain-a-dixTaena dugsTaindixTanadickTean-a-dickTain disc
13Eddera-a-dixTethera dugsEdderodixTetheradickTether-dickEderro disc
14Peddera-a-dixFethera dugsPedderodixMetheradickMether-dickPeddero disc
15BumfitBuonBumfitBumfitBumfitBumfitt
16Yain-a-bumfitAena buonYain-o-BumfitYanabumYan-a-bumBumfitt yain
17Tain-a-bumfitTaena buonTain-o-BumfitTanabumTean-a-bumBumfitt tain
18Eddera-bumfitTethera buonEddero-BumfitTetherabumTethera-bumBumfitt ederro
19Peddera-a-bumfitFethera buonPeddero-BumfitMetherabumMethera-bumBumfitt peddero
20JiggitGun a gunJiggitJiggetJiggitJiggit

Lincolnshire, Derbyshire and County Durham

Number Derbyshire Weardale Tong Kirkby Lonsdale Derbyshire Dales Lincolnshire
1YainYanYanYaanYanYan
2TainTeyanTanTyaanTanTan
3EdderoTetheraTetherTaed'ereTetheraTethera
4PederroMetheraMetherMead'ereMetheraPethera
5PittsTicPickMimpPipPimp
6TayterYan-a-ticSesanHaitesSetheraSethera
7LaterTeyan-a-ticAselSaitesLetheraLethera
8OverroTethera-ticCatelHaovesHoveraHovera
9CoverroMethera-ticOinerDaovesDoveraCovera
10DixBubDickDikDickDik
11Yain-dixYan-a-bubYanadickYaan'edikYan-a-dik
12Tain-dixTeyan-a-bubTanadickTyaan'edikTan-a-dik
13Eddero-dixTethera-bubTetheradickTead'eredikTethera-dik
14Peddero-dixMethera-bubMetheradickMead'eredikPethera-dik
15BumfittTic-a-bubBumfitBoon, buom, buumBumfit
16Yain-o-bumfittYan-tic-a-bubYanabumYaan'eboonYan-a-bumfit
17Tain-o-bumfittTeyan-tic-a-bubTanabumTyaan'eboonTan-a-bumfit
18Eddero-o-bumfittTethera-tic-a-bubTetherabumTead'ereboonTethera-bumfit
19Peddero-o-bumfittMethera-tic-a-bubMetherabumMead'ereboonPethera-bumfit
20JiggitGiggetJiggetBuom'fit, buum'fitFiggot

Southwest England

Number South West England (Variations)West Country Dorset
1YahnHant
2TaynTant
3TetherTothery
4MetherForthery
5MumphFant
6HitherSahny
7LitherDahny
8AuverDowny
9DauverDominy
10DicDik
11YahndicHaindik
12TayndicTaindik
13TetherdicTotherydik
14MetherdicFotherydik
15MumphitJiggen
16Yahna MumphitHain Jiggen
17Tayna MumphitTain Jiggen
18Tethera MumphitTother Jiggen
19Methera MumphitFother Jiggen
20JigifFull Score

Cumberland, and Westmorland

Number Coniston Borrowdale Eskdale Westmorland
1YanYanYaenaYan
2TaenTyanTaenaTahn
3TedderteTetheraTedderaTeddera
4MedderteMetheraMedderaMeddera
5PimpPimpPimpPimp
6HaataSetheraSeckeraSettera
7SlaataLetheraLeckeraLettera
8LowraHoveraHofaHovera
9DowraDoveraLofaDovera
10DickDickDecDick
11Yan-a-DickYan-a-DickYan Dick
12Taen-a-DickTyan-a-DickTahn Dick
13Tedder-a-DickTethera-DickTeddera Dick
14Medder-a-DickMethera-DickMeddera Dick
15MimphBumfitBumfit
16Yan-a-MimphYan-a-bumfitYan-a-Bumfit
17Taen-a-MimphTyan-a-bumfitTahn-a Bumfit
18Tedder-a-MimphTethera BumfitTeddera-Bumfit
19Medder-a-MimphMethera BumfitMeddera-Bumfit
20GiggetGiggotJiggot

Wilts, Scots, Lakes, Dales and Welsh

Note: Scots here means "Scots" not "Gaelic"

Number Wilts Scots LakesDales Welsh
1AinYanAunaYainUn
2TainTyanPeinaTainDau
3TetheraTetheraParaEdderoaTri
4MetheraMetheraPedderaPedderoPedwar
5MimpPimpPimpPittsPump
6AytaSetheraIthyTayterChwech
7SlaytaLetheraMithyLeterSaith
8LauraHoveraOweraOverroWyth
9DoraDoveraLoweraCoverroNaw
10DikDikDigDixDeg
11Ain-a-dikYanadikAin-a-digYain-dixUn ar ddeg
12Tain-a-dikTyanadikPein-a-digTain-dixDeuddeg
13Tethera-a-dikTetheradikPara-a-digEddero-dixTri ar ddeg
14Methera-a-dikMetheradikPeddaer-a-digPedderp-dixPedwar ar ddeg
15MitBumfittBunfitBumfittPymtheg
16Ain-a-mitYanabumfitAina-a-bumfitYain-o-bumfittUn ar bymtheg
17Tain-a-mitTyanabumfittPein-a-bumfitTain-o-bumfittDau ar bymtheg
18Tethera-mitTetherabumfittPar-a-bunfitEddero-bumfittDeunaw
19Gethera-mitMetherabumfittPedder-a-bumfitPeddero-bumfittPedwar ar bymtheg
20GhetGiggotGiggyJiggitUgain

Numerals in Brythonic Celtic languages

Number Ancient British Old Welsh Welsh Cornish (Kemmyn) Breton
1*oinos (m + n), *oinā (f)unununn; onanunan
2*dwāu (m), *dwī (f)dou, (?)dau, dwydew, diwdaou, div
3*trīs (m), *tisres (f)tri, (?)tri, tairtri, teyrtri, teir
4*petwares (m), *petesres (f)petuar, (?)pedwar, pedairpeswar, pederpevar, peder
5*pempepimppumppymppemp
6*swexschwechchwechhweghc'hwec'h
7*sextanseithsaithseythseizh
8*oxtūwythwythetheizh
9*nawannaunawnawnav
10*dekandecdegdegdek
11*oinodekanun ar ddegunnekunnek
12*dwāudekandeuddegdewdhekdaouzek
13*trīdekantri ar ddeg, tair ar ddegtrydhektrizek
14*petwardekanpedwar ar ddeg, pedair ar ddegpeswardhekpevarzek
15*pempedekanpymthegpymthekpemzek
16*swexsdekanun ar bymtheghwetekc'hwezek
17*sextandekandau ar bymtheg, dwy ar bymthegseytekseitek
18*oxtūdekandeunawetektriwec'h
19*nawadekampedwar ar bymtheg, pedair ar bymthegnownseknaontek
20*wikantīugainugensugent

See also

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References

  1. Distin, Kate (2010). Cultural Evolution . Cambridge University Press. p.  93. ISBN   978-0-521-18971-2.
  2. Gay, Tim (July 1999). "Rural dialects and surviving Britons" . British Archaeology (46): 18.
  3. R. S. T. (1863). "Knitting Song". Notes and Queries . 3rd Series. 4: 205.
  4. St Jude's Prints. "Yan tan Tethera". St. Jude's Prints. Retrieved 2020-03-13.
  5. "New Beer - Yan Tan Tethera". Great Newsome Brewery. 2019-03-31. Retrieved 2020-03-13.
  6. Yan Tan Hard Seltzer. "Yan Tan". Yantan.uk. Retrieved 2022-03-09.
  7. "Yan tan tethera". Etsy. Retrieved 2020-03-13.
  8. "Old Molly Metcalfe Song". Etsy. Retrieved 2023-03-02.
  9. Leith, Dick (1997). A Social History of English . Routledge. p.  45. ISBN   0-415-09797-5. (Alternate ISBN   978-0-415-09797-0)
  10. Griffiths, Bill (2004). A Dictionary of North East Dialect. Northumbria University Press. p. 191. ISBN   1-904794-16-5.
  11. Griffiths, Bill (2004). A Dictionary of North East Dialect. Northumbria University Press. p. 79. ISBN   1-904794-16-5.

Further reading