The woman is swinging the child in the swing

[Tait-ka]

Can you please watch 54 seconds of this video (from 11:00 to 11:54)?
What is the woman doing?

Is she "swinging/rocking the child in the swing made of cloth"? The both sides of the swing are tied to the cot.

 

[Skrej]

What is the woman doing?

Is she "swinging/rocking the child in the swing made of cloth"? The both sides Both ends of the swing are tied to the cot.

The term for such a swing is a 'hammock'. Note that it's the ends of the hammock which are tied to the cot, not the sides.

I'd say she's 'rocking' the child in the hammock.

 

[Tait-ka]

she's 'rocking' the child in the hammock.

Thank you.
Can I please ask why you would not use "swinging" here?

 

[emsr2d2]

If the child was awake and the woman was moving the hammock in that way for fun (ie the child was enjoying it and giggling), I'd say she was swinging it. However, the child is asleep and she's moving it very gently, at least at the start so I too would describe it as "rocking". We say that we rock someone to sleep (usually a baby or toddler) so it fits the scenario perfectly.

 

[tedmc]

Thank you.
Can I please ask why you would not use "swinging" here?

To swing is to cause an object to move to and fro, so I wouldn't say "swing" is wrong, but "rock" is a more natural collocation. The nursery rhythm "Rock-a-bye Baby" comes to mind.

 

[Skrej]

I tend to think of 'swinging' as being faster and involving a wider range of movement. 'Rocking' is not only slower, but involves a shorter travel distance.