Language modeling (theoretical linguistics) is the formal computational investigation and representation of linguistic structures, processes, and knowledge systems from a theoretical perspective. Situated within computational linguistics and natural language processing, this field involves developing and analyzing abstract computational models (such as formal grammars, automata, or other computational architectures) designed to capture, explain, or simulate fundamental aspects of human language, including its syntactic, semantic, or phonological properties. Its significance lies in providing a framework for testing the computational tractability and empirical adequacy of linguistic theories, exploring the computational complexity of linguistic phenomena, and advancing the theoretical understanding of language as a cognitive system, distinct from purely predictive or statistical language modeling focused on practical applications.