News for hackers. Stuff that matters.
Re:Scientists should learn to program by amichail on Sunday November 25, 2007 @04:43PM (#83397)
There are at least two very difficult things about natural languages: messy illogical syntax and enormous vocabulary.

For a simple language such as python, you can learn most of the syntax very quickly. Vocabulary (e.g., libraries) takes a bit longer but still requires much less memorization. And you can always create things from scratch.

Re:Scientists should learn to program by geebee on Sunday November 25, 2007 @11:14PM (#83480)
But you still haven't addressed the main objection here: that you're comparing two different undertakings. You've compared writing a small app in a high level language with learning a natural language. You could have just as easily said it isn't as hard as proving fermat's last theorem, or writing a novel, or composing a symphony. Thsse things also have a few elements in common with writing a short script in a high level language. But these comparisons don't mean a thing.

Re:Scientists should learn to program by amichail on Monday November 26, 2007 @12:08AM (#83487)
If a student already knows English, then it's better to learn to write small programs in a high-level language than it is to learn another natural language.