One noteworthy and interesting fact relating to numeral nomenclature is the variation in form which words of this class undergo when applied to different classes of objects.  To one accustomed as we are to absolute and unvarying forms for numerals, this seems at first a novel and almost unaccountable linguistic freak.  But it is not uncommon among uncivilized races, and is extensively employed by so highly enlightened a people, even, as the Japanese.  This variation in form is in no way analogous to that produced by inflectional changes, such as occur in Hebrew, Greek, Latin, etc.  It is sufficient in many cases to produce almost an entire change in the form of the word; or to result in compounds which require close scrutiny for the detection of the original root.  For example, in the Carrier, one of the Dene dialects of western Canada, the word tha means 3 things; thane, 3 persons; that, 3 times; thatoen, in 3 places; thauh, in 3 ways; thailtoh, all of the 3 things; thahoeltoh, all of the 3 persons; and thahultoh, all of the 3 times.[138] In the Tsimshian language of British Columbia we find seven distinct sets of numerals “which are used for various classes of objects that are counted.  The first set is used in counting where there is no definite object referred to; the second class is used for counting flat objects and animals; the third for counting round objects and divisions of time; the fourth for counting men; the fifth for counting long objects, the numerals being composed with kan, tree; the sixth for counting canoes; and the seventh for measures.  The last seem to be composed with anon, hand."[139] The first ten numerals of each of these classes is given in the following table: 

+----+---------+---------+---------+----------+--------

----+-------------+-------------+
|No. |Counting | Flat    | Round   | Men      | Long       | Canoes      | Measures    |
|    |         | Objects | Objects |          | Objects    |             |             |
+----+---------+---------+---------+----------+------------+

-------------+-------------+
| 1  |gyak gak |g’erel   |k’al     |k’awutskan|k’amaet     |k’al         |             |
| 2  |t’epqat  |t’epqat  |goupel   |t’epqadal |gaopskan    |g’alp[=e]eltk|gulbel       |
| 3  |guant    |guant    |gutle    |gulal     |galtskan    |galtskantk   |guleont      |
| 4  |tqalpq   |tqalpq   |tqalpq   |tqalpqdal |tqaapskan   |tqalpqsk     |tqalpqalont  |
| 5  |kct[=o]nc|kct[=o]nc|kct[=o]nc|kcenecal  |k’etoentskan|kct[=o]onsk  |kctonsilont  |
| 6  |k’alt    |k’alt    |k’alt    |k’aldal   |k’aoltskan  |k’altk       |k’aldelont   |
| 7  |t’epqalt |t’epqalt |t’epqalt |t’epqaldal|t’epqaltskan|t’epqaltk    |t’epqaldelont|
| 8  |guandalt |yuktalt  |yuktalt  |yuktleadal|ek’tlaedskan|yuktaltk     |yuktaldelont |
| 9  |kctemac  |kctemac  |kctemac  |kctemacal |kctemaestkan|kctemack     |kctemasilont |
|10  |gy’ap    |gy’ap    |kp[=e]el |kpal      |kp[=e]etskan|gy’apsk      |kpeont       |