Formal proof
A formal proof is a rigorous mathematical demonstration that establishes the truth of a statement or theorem through a series of logical deductions based on agreed-upon axioms and inference rules. Formal proofs are characterized by their strict adherence to a defined formal system, which includes: 1. **Axioms**: Fundamental statements or propositions assumed to be true without proof. They serve as the starting point for any arguments or proofs.
Formal system
A formal system is a structured framework designed to derive theorems from a set of axioms through formal rules of inference. It consists of several key components: 1. **Alphabet**: A finite set of symbols used to construct expressions and statements within the system. 2. **Language**: The formal expressions are defined using the symbols of the alphabet based on specific grammatical rules. This includes both syntactic rules (how symbols can be combined) and semantic rules (meaning of the expressions).
Formation rule
The term "formation rule" can refer to different concepts depending on the context in which it is used. Here are a few interpretations: 1. **Mathematics and Logic**: In formal systems, a formation rule specifies how certain symbols can be combined to form valid expressions or statements. For example, in formal grammars, a formation rule might determine how to construct sentences from a set of symbols.
Free monoid
A **free monoid** is a mathematical structure that consists of a set of elements combined with an associative operation. More specifically, it is formed from a set and includes the operation of concatenation (or joining) of its elements. Here are the key details: 1. **Set**: Let \( S \) be a set of elements. For example, \( S \) could be a set of characters or symbols.
Generalized Context-Free Grammar (GCFG) extends the concept of context-free grammars (CFG) by allowing productions that can have multiple non-terminal symbols on the left-hand side.
Gesture Description Language
Gesture Description Language (GDL) is a formal language designed for the specification, representation, and recognition of gestures in human-computer interaction. It provides a structured way to describe gesture patterns, enabling systems to interpret and respond to user movements and signs effectively. GDL is particularly useful in contexts like sign language recognition, touchless interfaces, and augmented reality applications.
Global index grammar
Global Index Grammar (GIG) is a theoretical framework in the field of linguistics, specifically within the realm of syntax and grammar. It aims to provide a comprehensive model for understanding the structure of natural languages by utilizing concepts from formal language theory and computational linguistics. GIG focuses on the relationships and dependencies between elements in a language, accounting for both local and global syntactic constructions.
Greibach's theorem
Greibach's theorem is a result in formal language theory, particularly in the context of context-free grammars and the equivalence of certain classes of grammars. Named after Sheila Greibach, the theorem states that for every context-free language, there exists a context-free grammar in Greibach normal form (GNF). A grammar is in Greibach normal form if the right-hand side of every production rule consists of a single terminal symbol followed by zero or more nonterminal symbols.
Greibach normal form
Greibach Normal Form (GNF) is a specific way of representing context-free grammars in formal language theory. In GNF, each production rule of the grammar has a particular structure that facilitates certain types of parsing. Specifically, a context-free grammar is in Greibach Normal Form if all of its production rules satisfy the following conditions: 1. The left-hand side of each production must consist of a single non-terminal symbol.
Hall word
The Hall word, often referred to in the context of Hall's marriage theorem or Hall's theorem in combinatorics, generally pertains to the concept of Hall's condition in the field of graph theory and matching theory. Hall's theorem provides a criterion for the existence of a perfect matching (or a complete matching) in bipartite graphs.
Head grammar
Head grammar is a term often associated with linguistic theory, particularly within the framework of generative grammar. It refers to a type of grammar that focuses on the structural role of heads in phrases. In this context, a "head" is a key word that defines the type of phrase it is. For example, in a noun phrase, the noun serves as the head; in a verb phrase, the verb is the head.
History monoid
In category theory and related fields of mathematics, a **history monoid** is associated with the concept of tracking changes over time or through sequences of states. It is particularly relevant in the context of systems where the sequence of operations or transitions is significant. A history monoid typically consists of: 1. **Set of States**: A collection of all possible states in which a system can be.
Indexed grammar
Indexed grammar is a formal grammar that extends context-free grammars by incorporating a mechanism for indexing non-terminal symbols. It was introduced to capture certain syntactic constructs that cannot be effectively handled by context-free grammars alone but can still be parsed in polynomial time. The key features of indexed grammars include: 1. **Indexed Non-Terminals**: Each non-terminal symbol in the grammar may carry a stack of indices.
Indexed language
Indexed language refers to a type of formal language used in theoretical computer science and linguistics, which is characterized by a level of complexity that is greater than context-free languages but less than recursively enumerable languages. Indexed languages are associated with indexed grammars, which provide a mechanism for generating strings that can include nested structures through the use of "indices." In more detail: 1. **Indexed Grammars**: These grammars extend context-free grammars by introducing indices to handle nested dependencies.
Interchange lemma
The Interchange Lemma is a concept in the field of combinatorics and graph theory, primarily associated with the study of matroid theory and combinatorial optimization. Although the term "Interchange Lemma" might refer to different specific results depending on the context, it often relates to the idea of interchanging elements in certain structures (such as sets or sequences) to achieve optimality or to prove the existence of specific properties.
The International Conference on Developments in Language Theory (DLT) is an academic conference that focuses on theoretical aspects of formal languages, automata, and related areas. It brings together researchers and practitioners to present and discuss new developments, findings, and approaches in the field of language theory. The topics covered typically include formal grammars, automata theory, computational linguistics, and the mathematical foundations of language processing.
"Introduction to Automata Theory, Languages, and Computation" is a foundational textbook in computer science, primarily focused on the theoretical aspects of computer science, particularly in the areas of formal languages, automata, and computation theory. Written by Michael Sipser, it is widely used in academic courses on computation theory and is recognized for its clarity, rigor, and comprehensive coverage of the subject.
Junction Grammar
Junction Grammar is a theoretical framework for understanding the syntax and structure of natural language. Developed by linguist Robert C. Berwick and others, Junction Grammar seeks to represent the relationships between words and phrases more dynamically than traditional grammar models. The key features of Junction Grammar include: 1. **Junctions**: These are the points of connection between different components of a sentence, such as words, phrases, or clauses.
Kleene star
The Kleene star, denoted by the symbol \( * \), is an operation in formal language theory and automata theory used to define the set of strings that can be generated by repeatedly concatenating zero or more copies of a given set of strings.