The heart of it

[Rmedinagarcia at aol.com]

In Nahuatl theres seems to be a predilection for compound words.  Seeing this
I wonder if there is a known relationship between yollotl (heart) and the
suffix -yotl.  Once -yotl is added Thelma D. Sullivan states "the noun
expresses a quality or attribute that is independen in meaning from that of
the noun .  .  ." (Compendium of Nahuatl Grammar p. 18).  The Aztecs like
many people believed the heart to represent the essence of the person.  For
example toltecatl (the people) tolteca+yotl (the culture, the essence of the
people).  Another example is nantli (mother) and nan+yotl (motherhood, the
heart of being a mother or the essence of being a mother).  Do yollotl and
-yotl have a similar meaning?

Ricardo