Zeta Functions of Formal Languages

Jean Berstel, Christophe Reutenauer
1990 Transactions of the American Mathematical Society  
Motivated by symbolic dynamics and algebraic geometry over finite fields, we define cyclic languages and the zeta function of a language. The main result is that the zeta function of a cyclic language which is recognizable by a finite automation is rational.
doi:10.2307/2001573 fatcat:xaq4dlbi2fasfku5e2pclwojs4