WT 4.6

Searching frames

This frame contains words for motions or actions an Agent performs using some part of his/her body. Most words that evoke this frame have a specific motion of a specific Body_part associated with them, but a few are more general (e.g. move.v).

A number of words in this frame occur as blends with Communication, in which the action has an Addressee. For example,

Pat nodded at Kim.

These examples differ from Communication.Gesture in that no specific message need be expressed, as in
She nodded to him to sit down.

Since this frame involves a particular type of motion, it contains the frame elements Source, Path, Goal and Area, which originate in the motion frame. All of these frame elements are generally expressed in PP Complements.
The boy swung his legs from under the table.

ID: #16
Entry: frm_body_movement
Namespace: Eventive.Agentive
FrameNet version: Body_movement (fn_1.7_2023)
Domains: —
Types: —
Ontological type: —
English name: Body_movement

Core Frame Elements
Frame element	Definition	Semantic type	Constraint
Agent	The Agent uses some part of his/her body to perform the action. Agent occurs as the External Argument. The boy swung his legs.	sentient	—
Body_part	With some verbs in this frame, the Body_part involved in the action is specified by the meaning of the verb and cannot be expressed separately. For example, Pat yawned (his mouth). With others, the Body_part is specified by the verb but can optionally be expressed separately, although its presence is generally redundant, as in Pat nodded (his head)\|BodP. A few verbs have a default Body_part which need not be expressed, but can be overridden by the expression of some other Body_part. Pat waved (his arms)\|BodP. (The objectless version of the sentence, Pat waved*, is a blend with communication.) The remainder of the verbs require a Body_part to be expressed in a separate constituent: Pat rolled his eyes\|BodP. Body_part generally occurs as the direct object.	body_part	—

CoreSet

Agent Body_part

Peripheral Frame Elements
Frame element	Definition	Semantic type	Constraint
Area	Area identifies any expression describing a region in which the motion takes place when the motion is understood to be irregular and not to consist of a single linear path. (This FE should be contrasted with Place.) Pat waved her arms about her head.	—	—
Cognate_event	This FE identifies the event noun of the verb. He clapped his loudest clap	—	—
Degree	This FE identifies the Degree to which the event occurs.	degree	—
Duration	The period of time during which the movement of a Body_part occurs. It seemed like we were clapping our hands for hours\|dur.	duration	—
Goal	Goal is any expression that identifies the endpoint of movement. Pat dropped her hands to her lap.	goal	—
Manner	This FE identifies the Manner in which the body movement occurs.	manner	—
Path	Path identifies the trajectory of motion of the Body_part without specifying a start or end point. Pat flung his arms up.	—	—
Place	The location within which the movement of a Body_part takes place. There was singing for joy in the streets, and everywhere\|pla people lifting their arms into the air.	locative_relation	—
Source	Source is the place from which the Body_part is moved. The boy swung his legs from under the table.	source	—
Time	This FE identifies the Time when the body movement occurs.	time	—

Extra-thematic Frame Elements
Frame element	Definition	Semantic type	Constraint
Addressee	Addressee only occurs in the Body-movement frame in sentences which are blends with Communication. Where it occurs, it is typically a PP Complement: Pat fluttered his eyelashes at me\|Add.	sentient	—
Coordinated_event	An event that the Agent perceives and responds to by moving in coordination with it. They bobbed their heads to the beat\|coo.	—	—
Depictive	This FE identifies any Depictive phrase describing the actor of an action.	—	—
External_cause	Cause is something in the external environment that causes the Agent to move part of his/her body. Cause is usually expressed in a PP Complement:. Pat jerked her head at the sudden noise\|Cause. Kim's nose wrinkled at the smell\|Cause. Cause does not include any physical force moving the Agent's Body_part. This type of situation is described by the frame Motion.Cause-to-move.	—	—
Internal_cause	Body movement may be prompted by either some outside phenomenon or occurrence, or by an Internal_cause, the Agent's mental or emotional state. Internal_cause is expressed in a PP Complement. Kim bent her head in concentration\|ICause. Kim threw her hands up in despair\|ICause.	—	—
Message	This FE identifies the Message that the body movement conveys.	message	—
Purpose	The purpose of the body movement. He winked his eye to give her a hint	state_of_affairs	—
Re-encoding	An alternative description of the Body_movement. In a bid to reenter the conversation , he kept waving his hand towards the rest of them.	—	—
Result	This FE identifies the Result of an event.	—	—
Subregion	This FE specifies the subregion of the body that is involved with movement. He bent his legs at his knees\|Sub-region	—	—

Using

Using relations
Is used by Facial_expression FE-FE
Uses Motion FE-FE
Uses Body_parts FE-FE

Lexical units of this frame
LU	Type	Definition
arch.v	—	FN: To from or cause a curved structure.
bat.v	—	COD: flutter (one's eyelashes).
bend.v	—	FN: to move a body part (usu the head or the extremities) so it forms a curve or angle with the body part it is attached to
blink.v	—	COD: shut and open the eyes quickly.
bob.v	—	COD: make or cause to make a quick, short movement up and down.
clap.v	—	FN: strike the palms of (one's hands) together repeatedly
close.v	—	FN: to move (a bodypart) so that it is closed.
cock.v	—	COD: bend a (limb or joint) at an angle.
crane.v	—	COD: stretch out (one's neck) in order to see something.
crease.v	—	COD: make a crease in the skin, especially the face
crinkle.v	—	COD: form or cause to form small creases or wrinkles.
cross.v	—	FN: to place a pair of extremities across each other
crumple.v	—	FN: crease or wrinkle
curtsy.n	—	COD: a woman's or girl's formal greeting made by bending the knees with one foot in front of the other.
curtsy.v	—	COD: perform a curtsy
drop.v	—	FN: to move lower, to cause to sink
duck.v	—	COD: lower the head or body quickly to avoid a blow or missile or so as not to be seen.
fidget.v	—	COD: make small movements through nervousness or impatience.
flap.v	—	FN: (for a body part) to move or be moved up and down or from side to side
flex.v	—	FN: contract a muscle (often in order to bend a joint)
fling.v	—	COD: throw forcefully; hurl.
flutter.v	—	FN: (usu for a straight, long body part) to move with a light irregular motion
gnash.v	—	COD: grind (one's teeth) together, especially as a sign of anger.
grind.v	—	COD: rub together gratingly.
hang.v	—	FN: to allow (one's head) to fall, droop
jerk.v	—	COD: move quickly, sharply, suddenly
jiggle.v	—	COD: move lightly and quickly from side to side or up and down. "The car jiggled on its springs."
kneel.v	—	COD: fall or rest on a knee or the knees.
lift.v	—	COD: raise to a higher position or level
move.v	—	FN: change the position/location of a body part
nod.v	—	FN: to allow (one's head) to fall, droop
open.v	—	FN: to move (a bodypart) so that it is open.
pout.v	—	FN: to sulk
pucker.v	—	COD: tightly gather or contract into wrinkles or small folds.
purse.v	—	COD: (with reference to the lips) pucker or contract.
reach.v	—	FN: To actively extend a body part in a direction (not necessarily specified)
roll.v	—	FN: move a body part on an axis, rotate
scrunch.v	—	FN: squeeze together
shake.v	—	COD: move forcefully or quickly up and down or to and fro.
shiver.v	—	COD: shake slightly and uncontrollably as a result of being cold, frightened, or excited.
shrug.v	—	COD: raise (one's shoulders) slightly and momentarily to express doubt, ignorance, or indifference.
shudder.v	—	COD: tremble or shake convulsively, especially as a result of fear or repugnance.
shuffle.v	—	COD: restlessly shift one's position.
shut.v	—	FN: to move (a bodypart) such that it is closed.
smack.v	—	COD: part (one's lips) noisily
stamp.v	—	FN: bring down (one's foot) heavily on the ground or an object, perhaps crushing, or flattening it.
stretch.v	—	COD: straighten or extend one's body or a part of one's body to its full length.
swing.v	—	FN: move or cause to move back and forth or from side to side
throw.v	—	COD: move quickly, hurriedly, or roughly
toss.v	—	COD: jerk (one's head or hair) sharply backwards
twiddle.v	—	FN: move (one's thumbs), generally as a humorously pointless way to spend time.
twist.v	—	FN: move part of one's body around; writhe, wriggle.
twitch.v	—	COD: make or cause to make a short, sudden jerking movement.
wag.v	—	COD: (especially with reference to an animal's tail) move rapidly to and fro.
waggle.v	—	COD: move with short quick movements from side to side or up and down.
wave.v	—	COD: move (one's hand or arm, or something held in one's hand) to and fro.
wiggle.v	—	COD: move or cause to move with short movements up and down or from side to side.
wink.n	—	FN: the act of closing one eye and quickly reopening it
wink.v	—	COD: close and open one eye quickly, typically as a signal of affection or greeting or to convey a message.
wriggle.v	—	COD: twist and turn with quick writhing movements
wrinkle.v	—	COD: make or become wrinkled.
writhe.v	—	COD: twist or squirm in pain or as if in pain
yawn.v	—	COD: involuntarily open one's mouth wide and inhale deeply due to tiredness or boredom.

Frame Chain

TQR

Visual Units

None.

No visual units

This frame has no visual-unit images.

Frame Report

Body_movement [agentive]

Properties

Core Frame Elements (2)

FE Core Set(s) and Excludes

Peripheral Frame Elements (10)

Extra-thematic Frame Elements (10)

Frame-Frame Relations (3)

Using

Lexical Units (63)