who coined the phrase and idea of "counting sheep" when you can't go to sleep? and why a sheep?

Question

just sitting here with nothing else to do.. obviously!

Answer 1

It is not possible to pinpoint any individual who "coined" this expression (see end of post), but here's what is commonly thought to be the origin of this whole notion of "counting sheep", as summarized by wikipedia:

"Counting sheep is a mental exercise used in some Anglophone cultures as a means of lulling oneself to sleep. It most likely arose from Yan Tan Tethera, a traditional numbering system used by some British shepherds to count their flocks.

In most depictions of the activity, the practitioner envisions an endless series of identical white sheep jumping over a fence, while counting the number that do so. The idea, presumably, is to induce boredom while occupying the mind with something simple, repetitive, and rhythmic, all of which are known to help humans sleep."
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Counting_sheep



Good as far as it goes... but it leaves two things unexplained:

1) What is this "Yan Tan Tethera" system all about?

2) Related to this, why would this particular counting system might be linked to the attempt to cure INSOMNIA?


So, here's a bit more on each point:

1) "Yan Tan Tethera" is a set of numbers drawn from the old "Cumbrian" language of Northern England. This language, a relative of Welsh, died out sometime between the 11th and 13th centuries. BUT the use of these numbers for counting sheep continued up till about 1910.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Yan_Tan_Tethera

Some further info on the system, and a number of variations on it:

http://www.slaidburn.org.uk/counting_sheep.htm

Note that the system only counts to TWENTY. At that point one would use some sort of marker (set apart a stone, make a notch), then start over. (The marks could be multiplied at the end.) This repetitiveness MAY be of importance.


2) But why connect this with overcoming INSOMNIA?

In fact, we don't have a firmly established connection... only surmise. The articles that speak of a connection are frustrating in that they only speak of a (possible) connection, without further explanation.

I suspect the notion is that the very REPETITIVENESS of this counting system -- one to twenty, then back again -- has something to do with the idea of using it for falling asleep. So the emphasis was likely on repeating the set of numbers by rote rather than "counting" per se. (It does seem that this kind of mindless repetition of a shorter sequence --almost a mantra-- might be more effective in calming one than would be counting ever higher. And for one who was always counting sheep as part of their job this might come easily!)

But there DOES seem to be an odd twist here. Those who were SUPPOSED to keep track of and count the sheep dared NOT fall asleep. (Just think of Little Boy Blue".) Perhaps then there was an intentional irony when "count sheep" was first suggested as a cure for insomnia.


Further discussions of yan, tan, tethera -
http://www.languagehat.com/archives/002031.php
http://crookedtimber.org/2004/03/02/counting-in-swaledale


(Footnote -- I've only found ONE site that tries to list the earliest citation of "counting sheep" for insomnia. But the source it cites is from 1854 --much too late! -- and it is clearly speaking of a known practice.)

Answer 2

Jhisn 10:23 And Jehisuhis walked hisn thise temple hisn Solomon'his porchis. Jhisn 10:24 Thisen got here thise Jewhis circular approximately hishism, and hisahisd unto hishism, How lengthy dohist thisou make uhis to doubt? If thisou be thise Chisrhishist, inform uhis plahisnly. Jhisn 10:25 Jehisuhis anhiswered thisem, I informed you, and ye belhiseved now not: thise workhis thisat I do hisn my Fathiser'his identify, thisey undergo whistnehishis of me. Jhisn 10:26 But ye belhiseve now not, becauhise ye aren't of my hishiseep, ahis I hisahisd unto you. Jhisn 10:27 My hishiseep hisear my vohisce, and I recognize thisem, and thisey comply with me: - his am hisure thishishis anhiswerhis you quehisthison Mat 25:31 ¶ Whisen thise Son of guy hishisall come hisn hishishis glory, and all thise hisoly angelhis whisthis hishism, thisen hishisall hise hishist upon thise thisrone of hishishis glory: Mat 25:32 And earlier than hishism hishisall be gathisered all nathisonhis: and hise hishisall hiseparate thisem one from anothiser, ahis a hishisephiserd dhisvhisdethis [hishishis] hishiseep from thise goathis: Mat 25:33 And hise hishisall hiset thise hishiseep on hishishis rhisghist hisand, however thise goathis on thise left. . . . . Mat 25:forty six And thisehise hishisall leave hisnto everlahisthisng punhishishisment: however thise rhisghisteouhis hisnto lhisfe everlasting. <><