The Genitive and the Possessive: view article

In most languages, possession has a universal format, i.e alienability is not distinguished. Whether or not something is permanently possessed or not isn't often expressed in language, especially not in the European languages that surround the Amazon Nation. However, Amazon does make this distinction, using different suffixes depending on whether or not something is alienably possessed or not.

For alienable possession, -h is used (called the Possessive case (POSSPossessive (case)
owns, has) in AT*) but for inalienable possession, -j is used (called the Genitive case (GENGenitive (case)
possessive) in AT). Together, these cases are called The Possessive Cases, not to be confused with POSSPossessive (case)
owns, has. Technically speaking, the two cases are actually GENGenitive (case)
possessive.ALAlienable (possession)
thing that can be gained or lost and GENGenitive (case)
possessive.INALInalienable (possesson)
thing that can't be gained or lost but they are given different names in AT due to the differences in use and form between the two. The exact distinctions between alienability vary depending on the noun/adjective in question (as the GENGenitive (case)
possessive and POSSPossessive (case)
owns, has are also used in place of 'to be' and 'to have') but generally speaking, if something belongs to someone indefinitely then GENGenitive (case)
possessive is used. In order to indicate person, a suffix is added after the case suffix, such as -jõ/hõ, both meaning 'my/mine' but differing in alienability. The suffixes for possession are highly regular, marking person first, then number with the regular number suffixes -kuu and -tx
*Amazon Terminology

Genitive	1	2	3	AN	INAN	ABST
SG	-jõ	-jã	-jũ	-juxi*	-juzi*	-jig
DU	-jõkuu	-jãkuu	-jũkuu	-jikux	-jikuz	-jikĩ
PL	-jõtx	-jãtx	-jũtx	-jitxux	-jitxuz	-jĩtx

Possessive	1	2	3	AN	INAN	ABST
SG	-hõ	-hã	-hũ	-huxi*	-huzi*	-hig
DU	-hõkuu	-hãkuu	-hũkuu	-hikux	-hikuz	-hikĩ
PL	-hõtx	-hãtx	-hũtx	-hitxux	-hitxuz	-hĩtx

*'i' is often dropped

It should be noted that these suffixes attach to the possessed noun, not the possessor and that the possessor comes after the possessed noun.
E.g: panhãhõ = my deer, panhãhux nholl = the man's deer

GENGenitive (case)
possessive is the most commonly used possessive case in casual speech but in formal speech, unless something is obviously inalienable, like one's arm, then POSSPossessive (case)
owns, has should be used to avoid sounding arrogant. However, when describing someone else's possessions/qualities (excluding those which are obviously false, like having red skin) GENGenitive (case)
possessive should be used as it indicates respect.

When using adjectives, either GENGenitive (case)
possessive or POSSPossessive (case)
owns, has is suffixed depending on whether or not the adjective is permanently displayed by the noun. The possessive cases supplant the use of pronouns as the person is indicated by the suffix on the adjective.

E.g: yiprųzjõ = I am red (permanently), yiprųzhõ = I am red (temporarily).

The first sentence might be used if you have red skin but as no-one does this would be incorrect. Normally, adjectives will have POSSPossessive (case)
owns, has suffixed onto them but when being respectful (or rude/insulting/arrogant) GENGenitive (case)
possessive is used to indicate that someone is permanently something.

E.g:
xã'i'caǫhõ = I am brave (polite, modest etc.), whereas xã'i'caǫjõ = I am brave (proud, arrogant etc.)
xã'i'caǫhã = You are brave (casual), whereas xã'i'caǫjã = You are brave (polite, respectful etc.)

[edit] [top]The Amazon Social Hierarchy

How a sentence sounds to the listener is dependent on the Amazons' system of formality and respect. At the top of the social hierarchy are the chieftesses. Underneath them are shamans, then warriors, hunters, other adult women, other adult men and finally children (who are regarded as equal, regardless of gender). Additionally, within these groups, the elderly hold higher status than younger adults, who in turn hold higher status than children. Respected individuals, regardless of their role, will hold higher status than 'normal' individuals, meaning a warrior who has killed a bison will have higher status than a regular warrior. Because the Amazons are a matriarchal society, hence their English name, women hold higher status than men and most of the roles associated with men in other cultures (warrior, hunter, builder etc) are filled by women. Men fill the roles of house-keeper, cook and carer, although men can be hunters too if they can prove themselves.

Order of Respect:

Chieftess
Shamans and Wise women
Warriors
Hunters
Elderly
Adult women
Adult men
Children

In all classes, an individual who has performed a deed worthy of respect, such as killing a bison on their own, will hold higher status than 'regular' people within their class.

This hierarchy dictates the level of respect that one must use when speaking and also determines which possessive case one must use in order to show respect and avoid sounding arrogant. If GENGenitive (case)
possessive were to be used in reference to someone of lower status, then it would be interpreted as 'sucking up to that person', whereas a child using GENGenitive (case)
possessive to describe themself would be seen as arrogant. This all means that the system of formality is important to learn and children will spend much of their early life learning it so as to avoid saying anything offensive. ✎ Edit Article ✖ Delete Article

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