Applications of language theory to compiler design
Jeffrey David Ullman · 1971
There are certain aspects of language theory that have had, or can have, significant impact on the design and implementation of compilers. These areas are, principally, the subjects of context free grammars and syntax directed translations. It is perhaps to be expected that the deep and interesting theorems of language theory do not usually find application. Rather, it is the definitions of formal constructs and their elementary properties that find use.