# Encoding syntactic objects and Merge operations in function spaces

arXiv: https://arxiv.org/abs/2507.13501 · HTML: https://mlsanity.com/paper/2507.13501/

## Key facts

- No citing papers in the map yet (data through 14 Oct 2026).
- Builds on 6 of its 83 references that are in the map.
- First posted on arXiv 17 Jul 2025.

## Builds on (most cited first, 6 of 6)

- [Mathematical Structure of Syntactic Merge](https://mlsanity.com/paper/2305.18278/) (2023)
- [ROSE: A Neurocomputational Architecture for Syntax](https://mlsanity.com/paper/2303.08877/) (2023)
- [Entropy of Overcomplete Kernel Dictionaries](https://mlsanity.com/paper/1411.0161/) (2014)
- [The Algebraic Structure of Morphosyntax](https://mlsanity.com/paper/2507.00244/) (2025)
- [Shadow of the (Hierarchical) Tree: Reconciling Symbolic and Predictive Components of the Neural Code for Syntax](https://mlsanity.com/paper/2412.01276/) (2024)
- [Hypermagmas and Colored Operads: Heads, Phases, and Theta Roles](https://mlsanity.com/paper/2507.06393/) (2025)

## Abstract (arXiv)

We provide a mathematical argument showing that, given a representation of lexical items as functions (wavelets, for instance) in some function space, it is possible to construct a faithful representation of arbitrary syntactic objects in the same function space. This space can be endowed with a commutative non-associative semiring structure built using the second Renyi entropy. The resulting representation of syntactic objects is compatible with the magma structure. The resulting set of functions is an algebra over an operad, where the operations in the operad model circuits that transform the input wave forms into a combined output that encodes the syntactic structure. The action of Merge on workspaces is faithfully implemented as action on these circuits, through a coproduct and a Hopf algebra Markov chain. The results obtained here provide a constructive argument showing the theoretical possibility of a neurocomputational realization of the core computational structure of syntax. We also present a particular case of this general construction where this type of realization of Merge is implemented as a cross frequency phase synchronization on sinusoidal waves. This also shows that Merge can be expressed in terms of the successor function of a semiring, thus clarifying the well known observation of its similarities with the successor function of arithmetic.