Captain, My Captain: Possessive Suffixes And Beings

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-wI' mine (beings able to use language)

This suffix is only used to describe beings able to use language. It would be a grievous insult to use the -wIj suffix on such a person, particularly one of higher rank or someone otherwise important.

How To Use -wI'

-wI' can be used in terms of direct address to someone, as well as referring to such people to third parties.

-wI' Versus -wI'

Of course, the fact that there are two types of -wI' suffixes - one a verb suffix for that which does, doer; one a possessive noun suffix - could cause a lot of confusion. Context, in this case, should make things clear.

Are there other suffixes attached to the word? If the other suffixes look like verb suffixes, particularly -moH, your word is likely to be a verb turned into a noun with the -wI' doer suffix. Is there a suffix like -vaD, -Daq or -mo' attached to the word? If so, the word is a noun with a possessive suffix.

lu', joHwI'	Yes, my Lord!
jatlh neH qama'wI'	My prisoner wishes to speak
bong jaghwI' vIHoHlaw' rIntaH	I may have accidentally killed my enemy
jupwI' vIlIH vIneH	I want to introduce you to my friend
loDHomwI' DaqIH	You are meeting my boy for the first time
nuHmey qengta' loDnI'wI'	My brother brought the weapons

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