the -wing suffix

[mistytail]

Since we're talking about the -feather suffix right now, how about we shake it up with another bird suffix: -wing. This one is really, really popular. The Erins use it a gazillion times: Whitewing, Dovewing, the /four/ Robinwings in the series... But what exactly is the purpose of this suffix? When you pair it with a bird prefix, it's just redundant, because clearly you named the cat for how the bird's wings look in the first place. But it's not just paired with bird prefixes, as we see with Whitewing. So what does this suffix mean? Is it for a cat with a "flighty" personality? I hope not because a flighty personality isn't a good warrior trait. Can it jump really high? Cool, but we have -tail for really agile cats.

I just don't get this one guys. Why do the Erins love it so much and what is it supposed to mean?

[celestialsquared]

There's four Robinwings?
I've heard from many that -wing means bird-like grace. That's great and all, but we already have -stream for this (and -brook though I'm not a fan)

[mistytail]

Read it and weep, babe.

It is just the strangest suffix to me. I guess it looks and sounds "pretty," but save that for Tribe names. Clan names need to have a function of some sort.

[cloudbat]

-wing is utterly pointless as again, cats can't use a wing, have a wing, look like a wing, or have a wing-y personality.

[drheiter]

Yeah, I don't really see much of a point in -wing. It doesn't represent any kind of skill or personality trait that we don't have another suffix for.

[victorystars]

Could -wing possibly be used as a variation of -step?
Like, say you had a swanstep, a large cat that had a swan like walk.
But then you had a swanwing, who was very graceful, like how a swan flies?
I know it probably makes no sense, but -step is for how a bird walks, not how it flies, so could -wing be used as an avian variation?

[Cobalt]

I assume if you did want an avian variation of -step you'd use -flight. I have more to say on this, actually, but it doesn't belong here.

-Wing. -Wing is ridiculous. Case closed.

[mistytail]

And cats can't fly anyway, so I don't see how you could argue they move like a bird flying? I am just so genuinely confused by this suffix. Part of me wants to find a good reason to use it because it's used in canon so much and, admittedly, all the names that use it are very lovely sounding... but it just doesn't make any logical sense. :s

[drheiter]

Oct 1, 2012 22:05:38 GMT -6 victorystars said:

Could -wing possibly be used as a variation of -step?
Like, say you had a swanstep, a large cat that had a swan like walk.
But then you had a swanwing, who was very graceful, like how a swan flies?
I know it probably makes no sense, but -step is for how a bird walks, not how it flies, so could -wing be used as an avian variation?

I can't say I agree here.
See, for me, -step is a bit more than just the gait of the cat. Rather, it's also the way the warrior acts. As an example, Foxstep would be slinky and clever and a bit mysterious. Mousestep would be shy and quiet. Badgerstep would be overpowering and a little aggressive.

If you only consider -step to pertain to the literal way a cat walks, it doesn't make sense. Foxstep would step slowly and gracefully. Mousestep would take small steps. Badgerstep would take large, powerful, maybe a little bit clumsy of steps. However, all birds fly more or less the same. It would basically be saying the same thing over and over again; this cat is graceful, and there's -tail for that (or -stream in certain cases). I do know that some birds happen to be clumsy in flight, but then you're really just saying that this warrior is clumsy, and clumsiness isn't necessarily a good trait to give a suffix for.

If you consider -step to be more of a figurative thing, -wing still doesn't make sense to me. From what I've seen, birds pretty much act the same (although I'm no bird expert). I suppose there are differences, but I'd say they're minor and not something the cats would be looking at closely.

I think I might be typing up a really long ramble here, and it's pretty late for me at the moment so I probably sound like a raging idiot, xD. Anyway, this is just my opinion, I'm not trying to be rude or anything c:

[victorystars]

Haha, it's fine. I know it didn't make sense, it was jut kind of a way to try and rationilise the use of -wing.
I knew it din't work, I just wanted t see what everyone else thought.

[Grey]

I've heard from many that -wing means bird-like grace.

Choking on my own laughter. This is another example of (not particularly well-versed in avian species) human Romanticism of nature.

Pheasants. They are clumsy, incompetent birds. There's a great piece of animation from a children's series (The Animals of Farthing Wood) that makes a long-standing gag about a pheasant inability to be graceful.

Swans, geese, ducks and other web-footed birds are often slow and ungainly on land, and this can make them look very silly (especially when they're a bit overweight, as birds that live near human habitation can sometimes be).

I think 'gracefulness' is a human fabrication when it comes to most birds. I wouldn't call birds like ravens or crows graceful, nor shrikes or kestrels, nor the many types of small skittering, hopping songbirds that live among the briars in England - but that's just me.

[cloudbat]

"...-wing means bird-like grace."

What.

What.

Why in the name of all that is holy would they admire the grace of their FOOD?

"Oh that delicious thing is so pretty *kills violently*"

Just saying.

[mistytail]

Indeed. Naming a cat -wing is kind of like naming your child Burger. Delicious.

[celestialsquared]

Oct 2, 2012 9:30:37 GMT -6 cloudbat said:

"Oh that delicious thing is so pretty *kills violently*"

I think 'gracefulness' is a human fabrication when it comes to most birds.

Imma be honest, I have no respect for the things I eat. I doubt other predators do either, especially since their entire lives depend on whether or not they get lucky enough to catch it. I'm pretty sure if a cat saw a bird flying in the air, I think it wouldn't be thinking "Man, how graceful." it'll be thinking about "Man, that would taste GREAT right about now."

[cloudbat]

Exactly. I love me some pretty, delicious dead birdies.