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In syntax, 'c-command' (the name originally deriving from "constituent command") is a relationship between nodes in parse trees. Originally defined by Tanya Reinhart, it corresponds to the idea of "siblings and all their descendants" in family trees.
In the following tree:

★ ''A'' c-commands ''C'', ''D'', and ''E''.

★ ''B'' does not c-command any nodes.

★ ''C'' c-commands ''A''.

★ ''D'' c-commands ''E''.

★ ''E'' c-commands ''D''.

   B

  / 

 A   C

    / 

   D   E

A node "dominates" another node if it is above it in the tree (it is a parent, grandparent, etc.) The formal definition is that ''X'' c-commands ''Y'' if:

★ ''X'' does not dominate ''Y''.

★ ''Y'' does not dominate ''X''.

★ ''by some accounts'', the first node that dominates ''X'' also dominates ''Y''.

★ ''by other accounts'', the first ''branching'' node that dominates ''X'' also dominates ''Y''.
The following tree is an example of where the two accounts differ in their result. If all nodes are considered, then ''A'' does not c-command any other nodes, because ''B'' dominates it and does not dominate any other nodes; if only branching nodes are considered, then ''B'' is irrelevant in evaluating the third criterion, and ''A'' c-commands ''D'', ''E'', and ''F''.

   C

  / 

 B   D

 |   |

 A   E F

Contents

References

See also

External links

References

★ http://www.criticism.com/linguistics/govt-binding-basics1.php

★ Harris, C. L. and Bates, E. A. (2002) Clausal backgrounding and pronomial reference: A functionalist approach to c-command. Language and Cognitive Processes 17(3):237-269.

★ ''Contemporary Linguistics'' by William O'Grady, Michael Dobrovolsky, and Mark Aronff. Bedford/St. Martin's. 1997 (third edition).

See also

★ m-command

External links

★ c-command and pronouns

★ node relations; Penn University