Computer English Unit 3 Computer Language and Programming(计算机英语 第三单元 计算机语言与编程)

Unit 3 Computer Language and Programming

第三单元：计算机语言与编程

Section A Programming Language

课文A：编程语言

Ⅰ. Introduction

一、引言

Programming languages, in computer science, are the artificial languages used to write a sequence of instructions (a computer program) that can be run by a computer. 在计算机科学中，编程语言是用于编写可由计算机运行的一系列指令（计算机程序）的人工语言。

Similar to natural languages, such as English, programming languages have a vocabulary, grammar, and syntax.

与英语等自然语言相类似，编程语言有词汇、语法和句法。

However, natural languages are not suited for programming computers because they are ambiguous, meaning that their vocabulary and grammatical structure may be interpreted in multiple ways.

然而，自然语言不适合为计算机编程，因为它们会引起歧义，也就是说它们的词汇和语法结构可能被用多种方式进行解释。

The languages used to program computers must have simple logical structures, and the rules for their grammar, spelling, and punctuation must be precise.

用于计算机编程的语言必须有简单的逻辑结构，它们的语法、拼写和标点符号规则必须精确。

Programming languages vary greatly in their sophistication and in their degree of versatility.

编程语言在复杂性和通用程度上差异很大。

Some programming languages are written to address a particular kind of computing problem or for use on a particular model of computer system.

一些编程语言是为了处理特定类型的计算问题或为了用于特定型号的计算机系统而编写的。

For instance, programming languages such as FORTRAN and COBOL were written to solve certain general types of programming problems—FORTRAN for scientific applications, and COBOL for business applications.

例如，FORTRAN和COBOL等编程语言是为解决某些普遍的编程问题类型而编写的——FORTRAN 是为了科学领域的应用，而COBOL是为了商业领域的应用。

Although these languages were designed to address specific categories of computer

problems, they are highly portable, meaning that they may be used to program many types of computers.

尽管这些语言旨在处理特定类型的计算机问题，但它们具有很高的可移植性，也就是说它们可以用来为多种类型的计算机编程。

Other languages, such as machine languages, are designed to be used by one specific model of computer system, or even by one specific computer in certain research applications.

其他的语言，如机器语言，是为一种特定型号的计算机系统，甚至是一台特定的计算机，在某些研究领域使用而编写的。

The most commonly used programming languages are highly portable and can be used to effectively solve diverse types of computing problems.

最常用的编程语言具有很高的可移植性，可以用于有效地解决不同类型的计算问题。

Languages like C, PASCAL, and BASIC fall into this category.

像C、PASCAL和BASIC这样的语言就属于这一范畴。

Ⅱ. Language Types

二、语言类型

Programming languages can be classified as either low-level languages or high-level languages.

编程语言可分为低级语言和高级语言。

Low-level programming languages, or machine languages, are the most basic type of programming languages and can be understood directly by a computer.

低级编程语言或机器语言，是编程语言中最基础的类型，可以被计算机直接理解。

Machine languages differ depending on the manufacturer and model of computer.

机器语言视计算机制造商与型号不同而有所区别。

High-level languages are programming languages that must first be translated into a machine language before they can be understood and processed by a computer.

高级语言是必须首先翻译成机器语言计算机才能理解和处理的编程语言。

Examples of high-level languages are C, C++, PASCAL, and FORTRAN.

C、C++、PASCAL和FORTRAN都是高级语言的例子。

Assembly languages are intermediate languages that are very close to machine languages and do not have the level of linguistic sophistication exhibited by other high-level languages, but must still be translated into machine language.

汇编语言是中级语言，非常接近于机器语言，没有其他高级语言所表现出的语言复杂程度，但仍然得翻译成机器语言。