Are you a big fan of the television show The Dog Whisperer with Cesar Milan? What about The Ghost Whisperer? Wondering what they’re whispering?

In popular culture, a whisperer is someone who has an extraordinary ability to understand and communicate with troubled animals, people, or other beings, and can help to rehabilitate them or change their behaviour.

Where did this come from?

The idea of a whisperer became popular in 1995 because of a book written by British author Nicholas Evans. The Horse Whisperer was #1 on the New York Times Bestseller list and has sold over 15 million copies. It was made into a move in 1998 starring the popular American actor Robert Redford, who plays the horse whisperer. The movie was even more popular than the book and has grossed almost $187 million worldwide.

The book was based on the lives of real people – horse trainers who have a gift for helping rehabilitate horses traumatized by an accident or abuse. The skill of horse whispering dates back to the 19th century. A horse trainer was so successful at calming traumatized horses, people assumed he must be communicating in some way with the horse – and to some it looked like he was whispering to them!

The popularity of the book and the movie led to anyone who has an ability to talk to animals being called a whisperer. Cesar Milan is the Dog Whisperer who helps dogs with behavioural problems. (His catchphrase is “I rehabilitate dogs. I train people.”)

Over time it has become a ubiquitous term used to describe people who have an ability to communicate with any being that cannot otherwise talk. On TV, American actress Jennifer Love Hewitt plays the Ghost Whisperer, a woman who can communicate with the ghosts of dead people and helps them talk to the living. There is also an Angel Whisperer, and a Baby Whisperer. People who would otherwise be called consultants are also referred to as whisperers, for example a Lifestyle Whisperer.