Class 1 Nouns
Rational Animates
Class 1 nouns cannot be possessed, but they can participate in an associative construction. The associative construction pairs a noun with a rational animate associate as [N N.raa]. Any classifier in the construction would reference the first noun. For example:
meli-lewa yisi 'son 1SG.A CLAS:child' or "my son".
luwu
star
Plural: luwona
Stars are considered to be rational animates as they are spirits, deities, ancestors.
meli
man’s son, woman’s brother’s son or nephew, man’s daughter’s husband, woman’s brother’s son’s wife or nephew’s wife.
Plural: melena