There are many different types of computer languages, and different ways to use them
Imperative programming tells the computer exactly what to do, in which order, and how to do it. Example:
C++
Code:
int main()
{
PowerUpSubwoofer(); // Initialise stuff
Music *phatBeats = LoadTunes("C:\Music\Phat Beatz.mp3");
TurnItUpTo(11); // It's gonna get loud in here.
Drop(phatBeats);
}
Declarative programming tells the computer what you want, but doesn't specify how to do it. Example:
HTML
HTML:
<BODY>
<H1>I am awesome</H1><!-- The header -->
<P>hahaha disregard that, i suck cocks</P><!-- The first paragraph -->
</BODY>
Functional programming defines functions the computer can do to transform a value into another value, but does not permit any side-effects - anything you "do" is completely isolated, and the only output you can get is a return value from the given input. Example:
Linq (a subset of .NET programming - this example is in C#)
Code:
// Declare some functions which return a subset of "allPeople".
// The allPeople collection remains untouched by this action.
var supposedlyResponsibleAdults = allPeople.OfType<Human>().Where(human => human.Age >= 21);
// At some point "ServeAlcoholTo" will interrogate "supposedlyResponsibleAdults" to get its values
ServeAlcoholTo(supposedlyResponsibleAdults);
Each of these serves a specific purpose. This is not the only difference between computer languages and natural languages, however.
Computer languages are one-way. Humans rarely (though occasionally for a bit of fun, some of the more fun-loving programmers out here do
) use computer code to communicate between each-other. There is little that can be said between two humans in C++ that cannot more easily be said in English, Chinese, or Arabic. (not-so-)Obviously, code still has to be readable by other humans, in the interest of maintainability, but ultimately this is secondary to the code working in the first place.
As it was said before, computers don't "think" in programming languages, but rather in microcode, which is ultimately what all languages must compile to in order to be executed by the computer. This, however, is more of a similarity than a difference - on a most basic level, the mind does not think in language. As Wobble said, even human languages don't cover exactly what "green" is, yet we know what it is when we associate the word with the quale.
and the body language aspect is certainly relevant B9. It kind of points up this idea that, when considering the exchange of information and meaning between two humans, one needs to consider all behaviour - not just the stream of words. Which then also links with the idea we got from Alva Noe, via xoqqiy, that consciousness is a dynamic process that happens across the interface between a brain, its sensory inputs and its wider environment.
