Yan tan tethera
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Yan Tan Tethera or yan-tan-tethera is a sheep-counting system traditionally used by
Origin and development
Sheep-counting systems ultimately derive from
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
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
Systems by region
Yorkshire and Lancashire
Number | Bowland | Rathmell | Nidderdale | Swaledale | Wharfedale | Teesdale | Wensleydale |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
1 | Yain | Aen | Yain | Yan | Yan | Yan | Yain |
2 | Tain | Taen | Tain | Tan | Tan | Tean | Tain |
3 | Eddera | Tethera | Eddero | Tether | Tether | Tether | Eddero |
4 | Peddera | Fethera | Peddero | Mether | Mether | Peddero | |
5 | Pit | Phubs | Pitts | Pip | Pip | Pitts | |
6 | Tayter | Aayther | Tayter | Azer | Lezar | Tayter | |
7 | Layter | Layather | Layter | Sezar | Azar | Later | |
8 | Overa | Quoather | Overo | Akker | Catrah | Overro | |
9 | Covera | Quaather | Covero | Conter | Borna | Coverro | |
10 | Dix | Dugs | Dix | Dick | Dick | Disc | |
11 | Yain-a-dix | Aena dugs | Yaindix | Yanadick | Yan-a-dick | Yain disc | |
12 | Tain-a-dix | Taena dugs | Taindix | Tanadick | Tean-a-dick | Tain disc | |
13 | Eddera-a-dix | Tethera dugs | Edderodix | Tetheradick | Tether-dick | Ederro disc | |
14 | Peddera-a-dix | Fethera dugs | Pedderodix | Metheradick | Mether-dick | Peddero disc | |
15 | Bumfit | Buon | Bumfit | Bumfit | Bumfit | Bumfitt | |
16 | Yain-a-bumfit | Aena buon | Yain-o-Bumfit | Yanabum | Yan-a-bum | Bumfitt yain | |
17 | Tain-a-bumfit | Taena buon | Tain-o-Bumfit | Tanabum | Tean-a-bum | Bumfitt tain | |
18 | Eddera-bumfit | Tethera buon | Eddero-Bumfit | Tetherabum | Tethera-bum | Bumfitt ederro | |
19 | Peddera-a-bumfit | Fethera buon | Peddero-Bumfit | Metherabum | Methera-bum | Bumfitt peddero | |
20 | Jiggit | Gun a gun | Jiggit | Jigget | Jiggit | Jiggit |
Lincolnshire, Derbyshire and County Durham
Number | Derbyshire | Weardale | Tong | Kirkby Lonsdale | Derbyshire Dales | Lincolnshire |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
1 | Yain | Yan | Yan | Yaan | Yan | Yan |
2 | Tain | Teyan | Tan | Tyaan | Tan | Tan |
3 | Eddero | Tethera | Tether | Taed'ere | Tethera | Tethera |
4 | Pederro | Methera | Mether | Mead'ere | Methera | Pethera |
5 | Pitts | Tic | Pick | Mimp | Pip | Pimp |
6 | Tayter | Yan-a-tic | Sesan | Haites | Sethera | Sethera |
7 | Later | Teyan-a-tic | Asel | Saites | Lethera | Lethera |
8 | Overro | Tethera-tic | Catel | Haoves | Hovera | Hovera |
9 | Coverro | Methera-tic | Oiner | Daoves | Dovera | Covera |
10 | Dix | Bub | Dick | Dik | Dick | Dik |
11 | Yain-dix | Yan-a-bub | Yanadick | Yaan'edik | Yan-a-dik | |
12 | Tain-dix | Teyan-a-bub | Tanadick | Tyaan'edik | Tan-a-dik | |
13 | Eddero-dix | Tethera-bub | Tetheradick | Tead'eredik | Tethera-dik | |
14 | Peddero-dix | Methera-bub | Metheradick | Mead'eredik | Pethera-dik | |
15 | Bumfitt | Tic-a-bub | Bumfit | Boon, buom, buum | Bumfit | |
16 | Yain-o-bumfitt | Yan-tic-a-bub | Yanabum | Yaan'eboon | Yan-a-bumfit | |
17 | Tain-o-bumfitt | Teyan-tic-a-bub | Tanabum | Tyaan'eboon | Tan-a-bumfit | |
18 | Eddero-o-bumfitt | Tethera-tic-a-bub | Tetherabum | Tead'ereboon | Tethera-bumfit | |
19 | Peddero-o-bumfitt | Methera-tic-a-bub | Metherabum | Mead'ereboon | Pethera-bumfit | |
20 | Jiggit | Gigget | Jigget | Buom'fit, buum'fit | Figgot |
Southwest England
Number | South West England (Variations) | West Country Dorset |
---|---|---|
1 | Yahn | Hant |
2 | Tayn | Tant |
3 | Tether | Tothery |
4 | Mether | Forthery |
5 | Mumph | Fant |
6 | Hither | Sahny |
7 | Lither | Dahny |
8 | Auver | Downy |
9 | Dauver | Dominy |
10 | Dic | Dik |
11 | Yahndic | Haindik |
12 | Tayndic | Taindik |
13 | Tetherdic | Totherydik |
14 | Metherdic | Fotherydik |
15 | Mumphit | Jiggen |
16 | Yahna Mumphit | Hain Jiggen |
17 | Tayna Mumphit | Tain Jiggen |
18 | Tethera Mumphit | Tother Jiggen |
19 | Methera Mumphit | Fother Jiggen |
20 | Jigif | Full Score |
Cumberland, and Westmorland
Number | Coniston | Borrowdale | Eskdale | Westmorland |
---|---|---|---|---|
1 | Yan | Yan | Yaena | Yan |
2 | Taen | Tyan | Taena | Tahn |
3 | Tedderte | Tethera | Teddera | Teddera |
4 | Medderte | Methera | Meddera | Meddera |
5 | Pimp | Pimp | Pimp | Pimp |
6 | Haata | Sethera | Seckera | Settera |
7 | Slaata | Lethera | Leckera | Lettera |
8 | Lowra | Hovera | Hofa | Hovera |
9 | Dowra | Dovera | Lofa | Dovera |
10 | Dick | Dick | Dec | Dick |
11 | Yan-a-Dick | Yan-a-Dick | Yan Dick | |
12 | Taen-a-Dick | Tyan-a-Dick | Tahn Dick | |
13 | Tedder-a-Dick | Tethera-Dick | Teddera Dick | |
14 | Medder-a-Dick | Methera-Dick | Meddera Dick | |
15 | Mimph | Bumfit | Bumfit | |
16 | Yan-a-Mimph | Yan-a-bumfit | Yan-a-Bumfit | |
17 | Taen-a-Mimph | Tyan-a-bumfit | Tahn-a Bumfit | |
18 | Tedder-a-Mimph | Tethera Bumfit | Teddera-Bumfit | |
19 | Medder-a-Mimph | Methera Bumfit | Meddera-Bumfit | |
20 | Gigget | Giggot | Jiggot |
Wilts, Scots, Lakes, Dales and Welsh
Note: Scots here means "Scots" not "Gaelic"
Number | Wilts |
Scots | Lakes | Dales | Welsh |
---|---|---|---|---|---|
1 | Ain | Yan | Auna | Yain | Un |
2 | Tain | Tyan | Peina | Tain | Dau |
3 | Tethera | Tethera | Para | Edderoa | Tri |
4 | Methera | Methera | Peddera | Peddero | Pedwar |
5 | Mimp | Pimp | Pimp | Pitts | Pump |
6 | Ayta | Sethera | Ithy | Tayter | Chwech |
7 | Slayta | Lethera | Mithy | Leter | Saith |
8 | Laura | Hovera | Owera | Overro | Wyth |
9 | Dora | Dovera | Lowera | Coverro | Naw |
10 | Dik | Dik | Dig | Dix | Deg |
11 | Ain-a-dik | Yanadik | Ain-a-dig | Yain-dix | Un ar ddeg |
12 | Tain-a-dik | Tyanadik | Pein-a-dig | Tain-dix | Deuddeg |
13 | Tethera-a-dik | Tetheradik | Para-a-dig | Eddero-dix | Tri ar ddeg |
14 | Methera-a-dik | Metheradik | Peddaer-a-dig | Pedderp-dix | Pedwar ar ddeg |
15 | Mit | Bumfitt | Bunfit | Bumfitt | Pymtheg |
16 | Ain-a-mit | Yanabumfit | Aina-a-bumfit | Yain-o-bumfitt | Un ar bymtheg |
17 | Tain-a-mit | Tyanabumfitt | Pein-a-bumfit | Tain-o-bumfitt | Dau ar bymtheg |
18 | Tethera-mit | Tetherabumfitt | Par-a-bunfit | Eddero-bumfitt | Deunaw |
19 | Gethera-mit | Metherabumfitt | Pedder-a-bumfit | Peddero-bumfitt | Pedwar ar bymtheg |
20 | Ghet | Giggot | Giggy | Jiggit | Ugain |
Numerals in Brythonic Celtic languages
Number | Ancient British | Old Welsh | Welsh | Cornish (Kemmyn) | Breton |
---|---|---|---|---|---|
1 | *oinos (m + n), *oinā (f) | un | un | unn; onan | unan |
2 | *dwāu (m), *dwī (f) | dou, (?) | dau, dwy | dew, diw | daou, div |
3 | *trīs (m), *tisres (f) | tri, (?) | tri, tair | tri, teyr | tri, teir |
4 | *petwares (m), *petesres (f) | petuar, (?) | pedwar, pedair | peswar, peder | pevar, peder |
5 | *pempe | pimp | pump | pymp | pemp |
6 | *swexs | chwech | chwech | hwegh | c'hwec'h |
7 | *sextan | seith | saith | seyth | seizh |
8 | *oxtū | wyth | wyth | eth | eizh |
9 | *nawan | nau | naw | naw | nav |
10 | *dekan | dec | deg | deg | dek |
11 | *oinodekan | un ar ddeg | unnek | unnek | |
12 | *dwāudekan | deuddeg | dewdhek | daouzek | |
13 | *trīdekan | tri ar ddeg, tair ar ddeg | trydhek | trizek | |
14 | *petwardekan | pedwar ar ddeg, pedair ar ddeg | peswardhek | pevarzek | |
15 | *pempedekan | pymtheg | pymthek | pemzek | |
16 | *swexsdekan | un ar bymtheg | hwetek | c'hwezek | |
17 | *sextandekan | dau ar bymtheg, dwy ar bymtheg | seytek | seitek | |
18 | *oxtūdekan | deunaw | etek | triwec'h | |
19 | *nawadekam | pedwar ar bymtheg, pedair ar bymtheg | nownsek | naontek | |
20 | *wikantī | ugain | ugens | ugent |
See also
References
- ISBN 978-0-521-18971-2.
- British Archaeology(46): 18.
- ^ R. S. T. (1863). "Knitting Song". Notes and Queries. 3rd Series. 4: 205.
- ^ St Jude's Prints. "Yan tan Tethera". St. Jude's Prints. Retrieved 2020-03-13.
- ^ "New Beer - Yan Tan Tethera". Great Newsome Brewery. 2019-03-31. Retrieved 2020-03-13.
- ^ Yan Tan Hard Seltzer. "Yan Tan". Yantan.uk. Retrieved 2022-03-09.
- ^ "Yan tan tethera". Etsy. Retrieved 2020-03-13.
- ^ "Old Molly Metcalfe Song". Etsy. Retrieved 2023-03-02.
- ISBN 978-0-415-09797-0)
- ISBN 1-904794-16-5.
- ISBN 1-904794-16-5.
Further reading
- Rawnsley, Hardwicke Drummmond (1987) "Yan tyan tethera: counting sheep". Woolley: Fleece Press ISBN 0948375175