GREATER KOLKATA COLLEGE OF ENGINEERING AND MANAGEMENT
Report on
Chomsky hierarchy of languages
Submitted by : Amirul Laskar
Subject : Formal Language and Automata Theory
Subject Code : PCC CS-403
University Roll : 23600123002
University Reg. : 232360110002
Department : CSE
Year : 2nd
Semester : 4th
Date of Submission : 10/03/2025
Abstract:
The Chomsky hierarchy, introduced by Noam Chomsky in 1956, classifies formal languages into
four types based on their generative grammars. This report explores its theoretical foundation,
characteristics, and applications in computer science and linguistics.
Introduction:
The Chomsky hierarchy is a theoretical framework that categorizes languages according to their
generative grammars and computational complexity. Introduced by Noam Chomsky, it
encompasses four levels—regular languages, context-free languages, context-sensitive
languages, and recursively enumerable languages. Each level is defined by its grammar's
production rules and the types of computational models capable of recognizing the languages.
The hierarchy has profound implications in fields such as compiler design, natural language
processing, and automata theory, offering insights into the relationship between syntax and
computational systems. By understanding the Chomsky hierarchy, researchers can identify the
capabilities and limitations of computational systems in processing and generating languages.
Description:
The Chomsky hierarchy consists of the following levels:
1. Regular Languages (Type 3): Regular languages are the simplest in the hierarchy and
can be recognized by finite automata. Their grammars, called regular grammars, have
production rules restricted to very basic forms. Regular expressions and finite-state
machines are tools used to describe and process these languages, which are widely used
in text processing and search algorithms.
2. Context-Free Languages (Type 2): Context-free languages are generated by context-
free grammars, where production rules depend only on a single non-terminal symbol.
These languages can be recognized by pushdown automata. Context-free languages are
extensively used in programming languages' syntax, as their structure is well-suited for
representing nested constructs like loops and conditional statements.
3. Context-Sensitive Languages (Type 1): Context-sensitive languages are more complex
and are generated by grammars where production rules depend on the surrounding
context of non-terminals. These languages can be recognized by linear bounded
automata. Context-sensitive languages are less commonly used but find applications in
areas requiring precise syntactical constraints.
4. Recursively Enumerable Languages (Type 0): The most general class, recursively
enumerable languages, are generated by unrestricted grammars. These languages can be
recognized by Turing machines. They encompass all computable problems but include
some that are non-decidable, meaning no algorithm can determine membership for all
possible inputs.
The hierarchy is inclusive, meaning each level contains all the languages of the levels below it.
This nested structure highlights the trade-off between computational simplicity and
expressiveness.
Conclusion:
The Chomsky hierarchy provides a systematic way to understand the capabilities and limitations
of different computational models in processing languages. Its influence extends across
theoretical computer science, linguistics, and practical applications in technology.
References:
1. • Chomsky, N. (1956). Three Models for the Description of Language. IRE
Transactions on Information Theory.
2. • Hopcroft, J. E., Motwani, R., & Ullman, J. D. (2006). Introduction to Automata
Theory, Languages, and Computation. Pearson.
3. • Lewis, H. R., & Papadimitriou, C. H. (1998). Elements of the Theory of
Computation. Prentice Hall.
