programmingLanguage as Language;
James Noble, Robert Biddle · 2023
Programming languages are languages --- “unnatural” languages because they are constructed explicitly; “formal” languages because they rely on mathematical notations and are described mathematically; “machine” languages because they are used to communicate with machines. Above all, programming languages are “human” languages. Programs in programming languages are spoken and read and written and designed and debugged and debated by humans, supported by human communities and forming those communities in turn. Langauge implementations, being programs themselves, are likewise designed and debugged and debated by humans.