1. A computing device that generates markup-language-based expressions from input, the computing device comprising: a module configured to receive at least one data input in at least one input mode of a recognition device; a module configured to generate at least one input lattice representing the at least one data input; a module configured to use at least one finite-state device to perform a function using the at least one generated input lattice, the finite-state device having symbols based on markup-language semantics, wherein performing the function comprises mapping a first markup-language expression to a second markup-language expression using a transducer relating the first-markup-language expression to the second-markup-language expression; a module configured to generate a result finite-state device representing a result of the performed function, the result finite-state device relating at least one set of input symbols to at least one set of output symbols; a module configured to generate the at least one markup-language expression; and a module configured to output the at least one markup-language expression to a processor.