Word Pronunciation & Dictionary

c-command

Word Rarity Uncommon

Frequency: Zipf frequency 4.61 in modern English

Syllables: c--com-mand
IPA

17

Scrabble Score

8

Letters

4

Syllables

6

Unique Chars

Meaning

noun

The relationship between a node in a parse tree and its sibling nodes (usually meaning the children of the first branching node that dominates the node) and all the sibling nodes' children.

Uncountable

verb

To dominate in a c-command relationship.

Transitive verb

Example Sentences

"Given the key assumption of Trace Theory that a moved constituent leaves behind a coindexed trace, we might formulate the relevant principle that transformations cannot downgrade constituents in terms of an equivalent condition that a moved constituent cannot occupy a lower position than any of its traces. This principle might be stated more formally as in (85) below (85) C-COMMAND CONDITION (85) A moved constituent must c-command ( = constituent-command) (85) each of its traces at S-structure (X c-commands Y just in case the (85) first branching node dominating X dominates Y, and neither X (85) nor Y dominates the other)"

Etymology

A shortened form of "constituent command." The term may also have been chosen so as to eliminate confusion in speech with the similar notion kommand.

Usage

Subject

Wiktionary places this term in Linguistics.

Inflected Forms

c-commands (present, singular) c-commanding (participle, present) c-commanded (participle, past) c-commanded (past)

Phrases

m-command

Frequently Paired Words

m-command kommand

Questions

What does c-command mean?: The relationship between a node in a parse tree and its sibling nodes (usually meaning the children of the first branching node that dominates the node) and all the sibling nodes' children.
Where does c-command come from?: A shortened form of "constituent command." The term may also have been chosen so as to eliminate confusion in speech with the similar notion kommand.

How to pronounce c-command

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