The English Language and Its Development
The English Language is arguably the most developed language on earth, having a phrase for almost anything and everything underneath the sun, which is known to human beings. The language has taken centuries to develop, adopting words for feelings, inventions, discoveries, and natural phenomena from different languages as well as from inventors of those things.
The Limitations of English Expressions
Almost anything that has a name, word, or expression can be translated precisely into English. However, there are numerous expressions that may not have a phrase to describe them. Many of the faces and baby expressions have hardly been paid attention to due to the fact they can hardly express their feelings barring when they cry when they are frustrated, belch when they are satisfied from hunger, or the sounds they make in their attempts to talk. However, when the babies play, it is only called baby play. There are very many faces and things a child can do that qualify as baby play.
The Fascinating Expression: "Murcker"
The most interesting expression that I see in children is one in which they playfully bring their lips together, as if to pucker or blow a kiss, but they use their nostrils to breathe in hard. This expression is common among babies who are learning to speak but can only manage to say two or three words. The first time I noticed this expression was with a young cousin, when he was just about eight to 10 months. It was a lovely expression; I looked for an expression or word for it but I hardly found one. When I think of it, the word that quickly comes to mind is 'pucker.' However, this word has a different meaning that is non-related to the facial expression in mind. This word is accompanied by a sound made by the interaction between the lips and the air flow in and out of the mouth. Therefore, it cannot describe the expression perfectly. The term 'murcker' sounds right as a word to be used for this facial expression.
Usage and Meaning of the Word "Murcker"
This word is a descriptive one. For this reason, it should be used as a verb to describe the action of a child making the facial expression while breathing in fast inhalation and exhalation cycles quickly. The selection of this word's spelling is inspired by the mimicking of a pucker from the lips, and the word 'murmur', which represents a silenced word, thus creating the word 'murcker'. It could also be used to describe the action whenever an adult makes these faces at a child. It is specifically meant to be used for children, especially babies because it would be illogical for one adult to make the same face at another adult. Since the expression is hardly available in vocabulary, the word will be used as a noun.
Appropriate Usage and Context
This word, as stated, is suitable for use only with children. This means that it can be used by anyone in the society. However, it is more appropriate for usage when tending to babies, especially when the nannies or the baby's mother or father is playing with it. However, in lesser occasions, people who may be considered strangers to the baby may use this word for the description. I would place such recommendations because this kind of play directly relates to child play. Certain words can only be used with some level of familiarity; they would never suit in formal descriptions. The closest people to a child are those who contribute to its raising and influence of their environment. They are the family unit comprising of the siblings. The restrictions imposed by formality mean that the word can only be used within the walls of a house within which the baby is raised. Certainly, friends of the family may also use it in a playful manner to describe the facial expression.
Proper Grammar and Usage
The word would follow the same language structure principles of other words in the English language with regards to verbs and nouns. For instance, it would be proper to say that "The baby murkered at its father." A sister could describe a child's face with the words "Our baby has the cutest murcker I have ever seen." Its informality, however, lowers the strictness of its usage with proper grammatical constructs. The main reason for this is that it would only be suitable for use with babies and people in informal situations rather than those requiring strict language application.
The Importance of Describing Baby Expressions
Many of the faces that babies make are hardly identifiable by name. It makes detection of a baby's needs and feelings harder. This is because the only expressions understood by adults are a cry and a laughter. Naming or describing other faces as well as behaviors will help to further understand how babies react to stimuli in various situations, which would help answer to their needs. The naming of this expression 'murcker' is a good start that could lead to the description of other expressions, sounds, and behaviors of children in the future. Babies of the future will be luckier than those at present or in the past because they will be understood in a better manner.
