1. lauren .

    lauren . New Member

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    help

    Discussion in 'Word Mechanics' started by lauren ., Jun 27, 2021.

    i’m writing a fanfiction and the protagonist is a mother, but i don’t know how to describe the sounds of the baby.

    do you know how to describe the sound that a baby makes before crying. it’s kind of like a whimpering but it’s kind of hiccup-y
     
  2. SapereAude

    SapereAude Contributor Contributor

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    Seems to me that I remember that as being called "fretting." Or maybe "fussing."
     
  3. jpoelma13

    jpoelma13 Member

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    I'm not even sure what sound your talking about to be honest. Maybe you're trying to describe it in to much detail.
     
  4. Catriona Grace

    Catriona Grace Mind the thorns Contributor Contest Winner 2022

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    My children generally went from silence to ear shattering cries with no discernable pre-howl noises, but occasionally one of them would make a little fast huffy-puffy sound before letting loose.
     
  5. jpoelma13

    jpoelma13 Member

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    That sounds like the child is simply inhaling. Perhaps it could be described as inhaling.
     
  6. Catriona Grace

    Catriona Grace Mind the thorns Contributor Contest Winner 2022

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    Nah, more like rapid inhale-exhale-inhale-exhale in quick succession (vibrato breathing?:rolleyes:) before the true wail bursts forth
     
  7. big soft moose

    big soft moose An Admoostrator Admin Staff Supporter Contributor Community Volunteer

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    Panting ?
     
  8. Catriona Grace

    Catriona Grace Mind the thorns Contributor Contest Winner 2022

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    Nope. Panting is too slow and deliberate without enough "I'm getting ready to holler really loud" overtones. I'm not sure a word has been invented for the pre-scream early warning system employed by small children, particularly my daughter.
     
  9. jpoelma13

    jpoelma13 Member

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    That's what I was thinking, Moose.
     
  10. Rzero

    Rzero Reluctant voice of his generation Contributor

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    When there's no word for something, or at least one can't be found, just describe it. What you have here is not bad. Use "the hiccuping whimper that always precedes a crying jag" or "She drew in hitching breaths between tiny whimpers. She was about to wail." or you know, whatever fits your paragraph.
     

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