The general question here is, whether a the first noun in a
N-N-construction can be used to modify the second noun.
Yes. Absolutely. The noun-noun construction represents a genitive
relationship between two nouns, of which possessive is only a
subset. In general, genitive means being associated in
some way. It's a very broad concept with many facets.
We have lots of examples of non-possessive noun-noun constructions in Klingon. mayqel cited baS 'In bell, which cannot be interpreted as drum which is possessed by metal. We have your own citation of QaDmoHwI' DIr towel, which is not a skin possessed by a drier. We have vaj toDuj warrior courage from KGT, which one might try to interpret as courage possessed by a warrior, except the word vaj refers to warriorhood, not a particular warrior, so vaj toDuj refers to the kind of courage associated with warriorhood, rather than courage actually possessed by warriorhood. We have nISwI' HIch disruptor pistol, which is not a pistol possessed by a disruptor but a pistol of the disruptor variety. We have 'Iw HIq bloodwine, which is telling us a kind of alcohol, not that the blood possesses the wine. We have may' qoch battle partner, which does not mean that the battle possesses the partner. And so on and on and on.
While Okrand may not use the word "genitive" in The Klingon Dictionary, the noun-noun construction is nevertheless Klingon's genitive construction.
What is a
{ra'wI' Qel}? A {SuvwI' Qel}? ... I think this leads back to my question
of a few weeks ago, where I suggested if there is some kind of negative
appostion, as seen in {QaDmoHwI' DIr}.
I have no idea what "negative apposition" is supposed to mean, but QaDmoHwI' DIr is an example of a genitive construction.
If we assume that ra'wI' Qel isn't to be interpreted as the commander's doctor, then it means commander-doctor, that is, a doctor who commands, a doctor who is a commander. Likewise, if we assume that SuvwI' Qel doesn't refer to a warrior's doctor, then it means warrior-doctor, a doctor who doubles as a warrior.
-- SuStel http://trimboli.name