NUMERAL CLASSIFIERS. 533 



elude tlieni altogether from the numeral, but add them to certain substan- 

 tives. But all of this largely differs from the mode in which classifiers are 

 applied in the Klamath of Oregon, which is probably unique. 



In this language the classifiers are applied to numerals only. They are 

 not suffixed adjectives or particles, as elsewhere, but verbs or then- 2J(isf parti- 

 ciples, descriptive of form, shape, or exterior of the objects mentioned, and in- 

 variably standing after the numeral, usually also after the name of the object. 

 They are appended only to the numerals above ten, and not to the dfx'aijic num- 

 bers, or numbers divisible by ten This gives the clue to their origin and use. 

 These suffixations are intended to classify only the unit or units after the 

 decade, and not the decade itself. Indeed, the unit following immediately 

 the decade in counting, as 11, 31, 71, 1.51, is in some instances qualified by 

 other classifiers than the units between 2 and 9, as 32 to 39, 72 to 79, etc , 

 because the former can be applied to single objects only, whereas the latter 

 refer to a plurality of objects. When I say: lap'ni ta-unepanta na'sh luti'sh 

 likla twenty-one berries, this literally means, "upon the twenty berries one 

 I lay {or you lay) on the top"; and when saying: lapeni ta-unep<4nta 

 na'dshkshapta lutish p^-ula twenty-six berries, I suggest by it "upon twice 

 ten berries six I put (or he, she puts) on the top or lay down"; or "after 

 twice ten berries six I lay down." Li'kla and pe-ula both refer to round- 

 shaped articles only; but the twenty berries previously counted are not 

 refeixed to by the classifier, only the units mentioned with the number. 

 'J'he classifying verb may be rendered by the indefinite term counted, num- 

 bered; before it, some subject-pronoun, as /, you, he, she, is elliptically omit- 

 ted, but not before its participles liklatko, pe-ulatko. 



The verbs serving as classifiers ditFer according to the shape of the 

 counted objects, but all agree as to their common signification of deposit- 

 ing, placing on the top of. The simple verbal form, al)solute or distribu- 

 tive, is employed when the speaker or other person is just engaged in 

 counting tlie articles; the past participle laid down in its direct or oblique 

 cases, absolute or distributive forms, is used when the articles were 

 counted previously and a statement of their number is made. A majority 

 of the classifiers are formed from the verb ikla by means of various con- 

 sonantal prefixes. 



