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.