 The allomorphy of this suffix derives from phonological adaptation after the loss of the "ÿ" consonant.Hypothetically this suffix was in the past always "-ÿi", but the "ÿ" was either palatalized or labialized into modern "y" or "w" respectively.In many situations in Tlingit morphology a similar process has occurred subsequent to the devolvement of "ÿ", further muddying the waters of allomorphy.