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Characterizing Language Generation in the Limit: Finite Witnesses and a Separation-Width Hierarchy

arxiv.org/abs/2609.10525

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Updated 6 h ago · first seen 11 Sept 2026

paper_01M294FTS4PXAF9QKR3CDFM837

Published
11 Sept 2026
T1 · 6 h ago
arXiv
2609.10525
T1 · 6 h ago
Category
cs.FL
T1 · 6 h ago

Abstract

-cross Abstract: Language generation in the limit asks for valid unseen elements from every exhaustive positive presentation of an unknown infinite language. We characterize this task for arbitrary families over a countable universe. Generation is possible exactly when each target can be assigned a finite positive witness so that the targets activated by any finite sample have an infinite common intersection. The necessary direction follows from a universal normalization: a search through unconfirmed histories converts any successful generator into one depending only on the observed set. We then ask how large compatible witnesses must be. Positive separation width records the smallest uniform size bound, with two further levels for unbounded finite witnesses and the absence of any compatible finite-witness assignment. Every level occurs. Countable families admit singleton witnesses, explicit families realize every finite width, and a union of two families with infinite common cores requires unbounded finite witnesses. Finally, countable-support and finite-profile obstructions explain why local combinatorial data cannot determine generation in the limit. The characterization and full width hierarchy are checked in Lean, including the simplified normalization and a direct diagonal capture lemma. The accompanying Lean development is maintained at https://github.com/xiaoyulics/language-generation-characterization

Authors 4

Xiaoyu Li, Andi Han, Jiaojiao Jiang, Junbin Gao

Specification

Official page

Source:arXiv (Atom API + RSS)T1observed 6 h agohigh

Arxiv announce type
replace

Source:arXiv (Atom API + RSS)T1observed 6 h agohigh

arXiv id
2609.10525

Source:arXiv (Atom API + RSS)T1observed 6 h agohigh

Categories
cs.FL, cs.LG

Source:arXiv (Atom API + RSS)T1observed 6 h agohigh

PDF

Source:arXiv (Atom API + RSS)T1observed 6 h agohigh

Primary category
cs.FL

Source:arXiv (Atom API + RSS)T1observed 6 h agohigh

Published
11 Sept 2026

Source:arXiv (Atom API + RSS)T1observed 6 h agohigh

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Provenance

Attributed facts

9

Source tiers

T19

Freshest observation

6 h ago

Conflicts

None