Learning new languages can be tricky!
If you’re not used to it as a kid, it can cause many problems, from the accent to the logic behind learning new words and their meanings.
However, learning a programming language is different.
First, of course, there is no speaking a programming language as you do with a natural one, which can make things more difficult.
Is that really like that, or is learning a new language easy peasy lemon squeezy?
In this article, find out what actually is natural and programming language, learn their differences, and how easy it is to learn a programming language.
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What Is Natural Language?
Human natural languages are, for example, Spanish, English, or Mandarin. Natural language is also known as ordinary language.
On the other hand, some languages are not considered natural languages. Those are:
- a manufactured language,
- an artificial language,
- a machine language, or
- the language of formal logic.
According to the notion of universal grammar, every natural language has certain underlying principles that influence and set boundaries for the development of the particular grammar for each language.
When talking about natural language, we have to mention natural language processing.
The scientific study of language, emphasizing the interaction between natural (human) languages and computers, is known as natural language processing. The term natural language processing is also known as computational linguistics.
What is Programming Language?
A programming language is made up of a vocabulary and a set of grammatical rules that are used to communicate commands to a computer or other computing equipment so they may carry out particular activities.
Each programming language has its collection of keywords and a distinct syntax for arranging the instructions for the software.
While primary in comparison to human languages, low-level and high-level programming languages are more sophisticated than machine languages.
Assembly and machine languages are examples of low-level languages.
A high-level language is significantly more straightforward to comprehend than an assembly language, which only has a set of fundamental commands.
On the other hand, high-level languages enable programmers to create source code organically using logical terms and symbols since they are intended to be simple to read and comprehend.
Numerous programming languages have been developed during the history of computers for various development purposes.
The selection of a specific language will rely on the goals to be accomplished because the area of programming is highly diverse.
These actions listed below are possible if you know the programming languages:
- Creation of programs and apps,
- Evolution of artificial intelligence,
- Database creation,
- Creation of video games,
- Creation of hardware interfaces and drivers,
- Evolution of websites and the internet,
- Creation of the script.
Are Programming Languages Artificial or Natural?
To answer the question straight away – programming languages are artificial.
As we said previously, a programming language is a made-up language, an artificial language used to convey calculations that a machine, especially a computer, can carry out.
Programming languages can be used to describe algorithms explicitly, to develop programs that define machine behavior, or even for human communication.
All languages developed organically through contact and repetition without deliberate planning are referred to as natural languages.
For instance, all-natural languages include German, Portuguese, Japanese, Chinese, Hungarian, etc.
Latin may also be viewed as a natural language, but it is now extinct, implying that it cannot continue to develop.
Also, natural languages do not have a creator, which is a vital concept to grasp.
Now let’s talk a bit about artificial language.
One of the primary use of artificial languages nowadays is in evolutionary linguistics.
Researchers want to examine the dynamics and evolution of living languages using artificial languages.
Artificial languages’ ability to take on different forms depending on the experiment they are used in is a crucial feature.
As a result, an artificial language might be a condensed version of a natural or totally original language.
For instance, in his research on the word order development of languages, Morten H. Christiansenl “created” an artificial language using symbols ( ❂●■❂■ ) like letters.
This means that Mr. Christiansenl replaced the words with symbols to determine the order of the nouns, verbs, etc., and see the patterns.
Additionally, when a researcher focuses on vocabulary, artificial languages with a constrained vocabulary might be created to meet the experiment’s goal, as mentioned in Dr. Christine Cuskley’s paper on language development.
What Are The Four Types Of Programming Langauge?
As said in the title, there are four main types of programming language.
Keep reading to find out the four types and their explanations.
Object Oriented Programming Language
This language aids in resolving a particular issue and aims to break down the issue into a group of objects.
Those objects provide services that you can use to address the issue.
One of the fundamental tenets of this language is encapsulation, which states that an object must contain all of its constituent parts.
Functional Programming Language
A language known as a functional programming language allows you to create programs by applying and combining functions.
You will use functional programming language when solutions can be stated as functions without significant physical significance.
Each function accepts an input value and outputs a constant value without changing or being influenced by the program’s state.
Procedural Programming Language
A sequence of computational operations must be performed in the procedural programming language.
That language is a dialect of imperative programming.
Programs created using procedural programming are composed of:
- procedures (also known as routines),
- subroutines, or
- functions.
Functions in procedural languages can control other variables outside the function’s return value.
Scripting Programming Language
A scripting programming language is an interpreted programming language that consists of a set of instructions that may be run without the requirement for compilation.
However, not all programming languages are scripting languages.
All scripting languages are programming languages. Examples of scripting languages include:
- Python,
- Perl,
- PHP,
- JavaScript, and
- Ruby.
Is Learning a Programming Language Like Learning a Natural Langauge?
Learning to program is similar to learning a language.
Although human languages and coding languages differ significantly from one another, both languages are nonetheless considered to have more characteristics than differences.
To learn a new language, you should practice it daily, whether it’s a human or programming language.
Also, many schools offer human and programming languages, and there won’t be distractions, which is a necessity when learning a new language.
To make the learning curve more exciting and more effortless, decide what you will need it. For example, coding a video game and software are apples and pears – two different things.
The same goes for human languages. Do you need it for business or communication once per year on vacation?
It would help if you surrounded yourself with a language. Then, if it’s a programming language, join communities and online groups that discuss the language.
The same goes for the human language. For example, if you want to learn Japanese, you won’t learn it while sitting in an English poetry reading.
All in all, learning a new language, whether it is a natural or artificial one, is challenging and can be tricky.
Arm yourself with patience and be consistent. You will see progress quickly!
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