(ROOT (S (NP (NN Body) (NN language)) (VP (VBZ is) (NP (NP (DT a) (ADJP (RB very) (JJ powerful)) (NN tool)) (PP (PP (IN of) (NP (DT a) (NN communication))) (, ,) (PP (CONJP (RB not) (RB only)) (PP (IN between) (NP (NNS people))) (CC but) (PP (IN in) (NP (DT the) (NN animal) (NN world))) (ADVP (RB as) (RB well)))))) (. .)))
Body language is a very powerful tool of a communication, not only between people but in the animal world as well.
compound
Number=Sing
body
Body
NOUN
NN
nsubj
Number=Sing
language
language
NOUN
NN
cop
Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin
be
is
AUX
VBZ
det
Definite=Ind|PronType=Art
a
a
DET
DT
advmod
very
very
ADV
RB
amod
Degree=Pos
powerful
powerful
ADJ
JJ
root
Number=Sing
tool
tool
NOUN
NN
case
of
of
ADP
IN
det
Definite=Ind|PronType=Art
a
a
DET
DT
nmod
Number=Sing
communication
communication
NOUN
NN
punct
,
,
PUNCT
,
advmod
not
not
PART
RB
cc:preconj
only
only
ADV
RB
case
between
between
ADP
IN
nmod
Number=Plur
person
people
NOUN
NNS
cc
but
but
CCONJ
CC
case
in
in
ADP
IN
det
Definite=Def|PronType=Art
the
the
DET
DT
compound
Number=Sing
animal
animal
NOUN
NN
conj
Number=Sing
world
world
NOUN
NN
advmod
as
as
ADV
RB
fixed
Degree=Pos
well
well
ADV
RB
punct
.
.
PUNCT
.
(ROOT (NFP  ))
root
PUNCT
NFP
(ROOT (S (PP (IN In) (NP (JJ many) (NNS instances))) (, ,) (NP (PRP we)) (VP (VBP produce) (NP (NP (NNS idioms)) (SBAR (WHNP (WDT which)) (S (VP (VBP are) (ADJP (RB all) (JJ understandable)) (PP (IN by) (S (VP (VBG borrowing) (NP (NNS examples)) (PP (IN from) (NP (NN animal) (NN communication))))))))))) (. .)))
In many instances, we produce idioms which are all understandable by borrowing examples from animal communication.
case
in
In
ADP
IN
amod
Degree=Pos
many
many
ADJ
JJ
obl
Number=Plur
instance
instances
NOUN
NNS
punct
,
,
PUNCT
,
nsubj
Case=Nom|Number=Plur|Person=1|PronType=Prs
we
we
PRON
PRP
root
Mood=Ind|Number=Plur|Person=1|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin
produce
produce
VERB
VBP
obj
Number=Plur
idiom
idioms
NOUN
NNS
nsubj
PronType=Rel
which
which
PRON
WDT
cop
Mood=Ind|Number=Plur|Person=3|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin
be
are
AUX
VBP
advmod
all
all
ADV
RB
acl:relcl
Degree=Pos
understandable
understandable
ADJ
JJ
mark
by
by
SCONJ
IN
advcl
VerbForm=Ger
borrowing
borrowing
VERB
VBG
obj
Number=Plur
example
examples
NOUN
NNS
case
from
from
ADP
IN
compound
Number=Sing
animal
animal
NOUN
NN
obl
Number=Sing
communication
communication
NOUN
NN
punct
.
.
PUNCT
.
(ROOT (NFP  ))
root
PUNCT
NFP
(ROOT (S (PP (IN For) (NP (NN example))) (, ,) (NP (PRP we)) (VP (VBP know) (SBAR (IN that) (S (NP (DT a) (JJ frightened) (NN cat)) (VP (MD will) (VP (NN arch)))))) (. .)))
For example, we know that a frightened cat will arch.
case
for
For
ADP
IN
obl
Number=Sing
example
example
NOUN
NN
punct
,
,
PUNCT
,
nsubj
Case=Nom|Number=Plur|Person=1|PronType=Prs
we
we
PRON
PRP
root
Mood=Ind|Number=Plur|Person=1|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin
know
know
VERB
VBP
mark
that
that
SCONJ
IN
det
Definite=Ind|PronType=Art
a
a
DET
DT
amod
Degree=Pos
frighten
frightened
ADJ
JJ
nsubj
Number=Sing
cat
cat
NOUN
NN
aux
VerbForm=Fin
will
will
AUX
MD
ccomp
Number=Sing
arch
arch
NOUN
NN
punct
.
.
PUNCT
.
(ROOT (S (PP (IN From) (NP (DT this) (NN starting-point))) (NP (PRP we)) (VP (MD might) (VP (VB hear) (NP (DT the) (NN expression)))) (. .)))
From this starting-point we might hear the expression.
case
from
From
ADP
IN
det
Number=Sing|PronType=Dem
this
this
DET
DT
obl
Number=Sing
starting-point
starting-point
NOUN
NN
nsubj
Case=Nom|Number=Plur|Person=1|PronType=Prs
we
we
PRON
PRP
aux
VerbForm=Fin
might
might
AUX
MD
root
VerbForm=Inf
hear
hear
VERB
VB
det
Definite=Def|PronType=Art
the
the
DET
DT
obj
Number=Sing
expression
expression
NOUN
NN
punct
.
.
PUNCT
.
(ROOT (S (`` ``) (NP (PRP He)) (VP (VBZ gets) (NP (PRP$ my) (NN back)) (PRT (RB up))) (. !) ('' '')))
"He gets my back up!"
punct
``
``
PUNCT
``
nsubj
Case=Nom|Gender=Masc|Number=Sing|Person=3|PronType=Prs
he
He
PRON
PRP
root
Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin
get
gets
VERB
VBZ
nmod:poss
Case=Gen|Number=Sing|Person=1|Poss=Yes|PronType=Prs
my
my
PRON
PRP$
obj
Number=Sing
back
back
NOUN
NN
compound:prt
up
up
ADV
RB
punct
!
!
PUNCT
.
punct
''
''
PUNCT
''
(ROOT (S (VP (VBG meaning) (S (`` ``) (NP (PRP He)) (VP (VBZ makes) (S (NP (PRP me)) (ADJP (JJ angry)))))) (. .) ('' '')))
meaning "He makes me angry."
root
VerbForm=Ger
mean
meaning
VERB
VBG
punct
``
``
PUNCT
``
nsubj
Case=Nom|Gender=Masc|Number=Sing|Person=3|PronType=Prs
he
He
PRON
PRP
ccomp
Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin
make
makes
VERB
VBZ
obj
Case=Acc|Number=Sing|Person=1|PronType=Prs
I
me
PRON
PRP
xcomp
Degree=Pos
angry
angry
ADJ
JJ
punct
.
.
PUNCT
.
punct
''
''
PUNCT
''
(ROOT (NFP  ))
root
PUNCT
NFP
(ROOT (S (PP (IN In) (NP (DT the) (JJ same) (NN manner))) (, ,) (NP (PRP we)) (VP (VBP know) (SBAR (IN that) (S (NP (NP (JJ many) (NNS animals)) (, ,) (SBAR (IN if) (S (VP (VBN challenged) (PP (IN by) (NP (NNS attackers)))))) (, ,)) (VP (MD will) (RB not) (VP (VB turn) (CC and) (VB run) (ADVP (RB away)) (SBAR (IN because) (S (NP (DT this)) (VP (MD will) (VP (VB encourage) (NP (DT the) (NNS attackers)) (S (VP (TO to) (VP (VB attack) (NP (PRP them)) (ADVP (RBR more) (RB forcefully)))))))))))))) (. .)))
In the same manner, we know that many animals, if challenged by attackers, will not turn and run away because this will encourage the attackers to attack them more forcefully.
case
in
In
ADP
IN
det
Definite=Def|PronType=Art
the
the
DET
DT
amod
Degree=Pos
same
same
ADJ
JJ
obl
Number=Sing
manner
manner
NOUN
NN
punct
,
,
PUNCT
,
nsubj
Case=Nom|Number=Plur|Person=1|PronType=Prs
we
we
PRON
PRP
root
Mood=Ind|Number=Plur|Person=1|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin
know
know
VERB
VBP
mark
that
that
SCONJ
IN
amod
Degree=Pos
many
many
ADJ
JJ
nsubj
Number=Plur
animal
animals
NOUN
NNS
punct
,
,
PUNCT
,
mark
if
if
SCONJ
IN
advcl
Tense=Past|VerbForm=Part
challenge
challenged
VERB
VBN
case
by
by
ADP
IN
obl:agent
Number=Plur
attacker
attackers
NOUN
NNS
punct
,
,
PUNCT
,
aux
VerbForm=Fin
will
will
AUX
MD
advmod
not
not
PART
RB
ccomp
VerbForm=Inf
turn
turn
VERB
VB
cc
and
and
CCONJ
CC
conj
VerbForm=Inf
run
run
VERB
VB
advmod
away
away
ADV
RB
mark
because
because
SCONJ
IN
nsubj
Number=Sing|PronType=Dem
this
this
PRON
DT
aux
VerbForm=Fin
will
will
AUX
MD
advcl
VerbForm=Inf
encourage
encourage
VERB
VB
det
Definite=Def|PronType=Art
the
the
DET
DT
obj
Number=Plur
attacker
attackers
NOUN
NNS
mark
to
to
PART
TO
xcomp
VerbForm=Inf
attack
attack
VERB
VB
obj
Case=Acc|Number=Plur|Person=3|PronType=Prs
they
them
PRON
PRP
advmod
Degree=Cmp
more
more
ADV
RBR
advmod
forcefully
forcefully
ADV
RB
punct
.
.
PUNCT
.
(ROOT (S (ADVP (RB Instead)) (, ,) (NP (PRP they)) (VP (MD will) (VP (VB move) (ADVP (RB backwards) (RB slowly)) (S (VP (TO to) (VP (VB get) (PP (IN out) (PP (IN of) (NP (NP (NN harm) (POS 's)) (NN way)))) (, ,) (S (ADVP (RB always)) (VP (VBG facing) (NP (PRP$ their) (NN attacker))))))))) (. .)))
Instead, they will move backwards slowly to get out of harm's way, always facing their attacker.
advmod
instead
Instead
ADV
RB
punct
,
,
PUNCT
,
nsubj
Case=Nom|Number=Plur|Person=3|PronType=Prs
they
they
PRON
PRP
aux
VerbForm=Fin
will
will
AUX
MD
root
VerbForm=Inf
move
move
VERB
VB
advmod
backwards
backwards
ADV
RB
advmod
slowly
slowly
ADV
RB
mark
to
to
PART
TO
advcl
VerbForm=Inf
get
get
VERB
VB
case
out
out
ADP
IN
fixed
of
of
ADP
IN
nmod:poss
Number=Sing
harm
harm
NOUN
NN
case
's
's
PART
POS
obl
Number=Sing
way
way
NOUN
NN
punct
,
,
PUNCT
,
advmod
always
always
ADV
RB
advcl
VerbForm=Ger
face
facing
VERB
VBG
nmod:poss
Case=Gen|Number=Plur|Person=3|Poss=Yes|PronType=Prs
their
their
PRON
PRP$
obj
Number=Sing
attacker
attacker
NOUN
NN
punct
.
.
PUNCT
.
(ROOT (S (NP (PRP We)) (VP (VBP call) (NP (DT this) (NN action)) (S (`` ``) (S (VP (VBG backing) (PRT (RP off)))) ('' '') (CC and) (S (NP (PRP it)) (VP (MD can) (VP (VB be) (VP (VBN used) (ADVP (RB as) (RB well)) (PP (IN with) (NP (NP (NNS humans)) (PP (IN as) (PP (IN with) (NP (NNS animals)))))))))))) (. .)))
We call this action "backing off" and it can be used as well with humans as with animals.
nsubj
Case=Nom|Number=Plur|Person=1|PronType=Prs
we
We
PRON
PRP
root
Mood=Ind|Number=Plur|Person=1|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin
call
call
VERB
VBP
det
Number=Sing|PronType=Dem
this
this
DET
DT
obj
Number=Sing
action
action
NOUN
NN
punct
``
``
PUNCT
``
xcomp
VerbForm=Ger
back
backing
VERB
VBG
compound:prt
off
off
ADP
RP
punct
''
''
PUNCT
''
cc
and
and
CCONJ
CC
nsubj:pass
Case=Nom|Gender=Neut|Number=Sing|Person=3|PronType=Prs
it
it
PRON
PRP
aux
VerbForm=Fin
can
can
AUX
MD
aux:pass
VerbForm=Inf
be
be
AUX
VB
conj
Tense=Past|VerbForm=Part|Voice=Pass
use
used
VERB
VBN
advmod
as
as
ADV
RB
fixed
Degree=Pos
well
well
ADV
RB
case
with
with
ADP
IN
obl
Number=Plur
human
humans
NOUN
NNS
case
as
as
ADP
IN
fixed
with
with
ADP
IN
advcl
Number=Plur
animal
animals
NOUN
NNS
punct
.
.
PUNCT
.
(ROOT (NFP  ))
root
PUNCT
NFP
(ROOT (S (PP (IN In) (NP (NP (DT the) (NN case)) (PP (IN of) (NP (NNS humans))))) (, ,) (ADVP (RB however)) (, ,) (NP (DT the) (NN back-off)) (VP (MD may) (RB not) (VP (VB be) (ADJP (JJ physical) (CC but) (JJ oral)) (, ,) (PP (IN as) (PP (IN in) (S (VP (VBG using) (NP (NP (DT a) (JJ kinder) (NN tone)) (PP (IN of) (NP (NP (NN voice)) (CC and) (NP (JJ gentle) (NNS words))))) (PP (RB instead) (IN of) (S (VP (VBG fighting) (PP (IN against) (NP (DT the) (NNS attackers)))))))))))) (. .)))
In the case of humans, however, the back-off may not be physical but oral, as in using a kinder tone of voice and gentle words instead of fighting against the attackers.
case
in
In
ADP
IN
det
Definite=Def|PronType=Art
the
the
DET
DT
obl
Number=Sing
case
case
NOUN
NN
case
of
of
ADP
IN
nmod
Number=Plur
human
humans
NOUN
NNS
punct
,
,
PUNCT
,
advmod
however
however
ADV
RB
punct
,
,
PUNCT
,
det
Definite=Def|PronType=Art
the
the
DET
DT
nsubj
Number=Sing
back-off
back-off
NOUN
NN
aux
VerbForm=Fin
may
may
AUX
MD
advmod
not
not
PART
RB
cop
VerbForm=Inf
be
be
AUX
VB
root
Degree=Pos
physical
physical
ADJ
JJ
cc
but
but
CCONJ
CC
conj
Degree=Pos
oral
oral
ADJ
JJ
punct
,
,
PUNCT
,
mark
as
as
SCONJ
IN
mark
in
in
SCONJ
IN
advcl
VerbForm=Ger
use
using
VERB
VBG
det
Definite=Ind|PronType=Art
a
a
DET
DT
amod
Degree=Pos
kind
kinder
ADJ
JJ
obj
Number=Sing
tone
tone
NOUN
NN
case
of
of
ADP
IN
nmod
Number=Sing
voice
voice
NOUN
NN
cc
and
and
CCONJ
CC
amod
Degree=Pos
gentle
gentle
ADJ
JJ
conj
Number=Plur
word
words
NOUN
NNS
mark
instead
instead
ADV
RB
fixed
of
of
SCONJ
IN
advcl
VerbForm=Ger
fight
fighting
VERB
VBG
case
against
against
ADP
IN
det
Definite=Def|PronType=Art
the
the
DET
DT
obl
Number=Plur
attacker
attackers
NOUN
NNS
punct
.
.
PUNCT
.
Body language is a very powerful tool of a communication, not only between people but in the animal world as well.  In many instances, we produce idioms which are all understandable by borrowing examples from animal communication.  For example, we know that a frightened cat will arch. From this starting-point we might hear the expression. "He gets my back up!" meaning "He makes me angry."  In the same manner, we know that many animals, if challenged by attackers, will not turn and run away because this will encourage the attackers to attack them more forcefully. Instead, they will move backwards slowly to get out of harm's way, always facing their attacker. We call this action "backing off" and it can be used as well with humans as with animals.  In the case of humans, however, the back-off may not be physical but oral, as in using a kinder tone of voice and gentle words instead of fighting against the attackers.