Published online by Cambridge University Press: 15 March 2004
We provide alternative proofs and algorithms for results proved by Sénizergues on rational and recognizable free group languages. We consider two different approaches to the basic problem of deciding recognizability for rational free group languages following two fully independent paths: the symmetrification method (using techniques inspired by the study of inverse automata and inverse monoids) and the right stabilizer method (a general approach generalizable to other classes of groups). Several different algorithmic characterizations of recognizability are obtained, as well as other decidability results.