Programming language
<language> A formal language in which computer programs are written.
The definition of a particular language consists of both
syntax (how the various symbols of the language may be combined) and
semantics (the meaning of the language constructs).
Languages are classified as low level if they are close to
machine code and high level if each language statement corresponds to many machine code instructions (though this could also apply to a low level language with extensive use of macros, in which case it would be debatable whether it still counted as low level).
A roughly parallel classification is the description as
first generation language through to
fifth generation language.
The other major classification of languages distinguishes between imperative languages,
procedural language and declarative languages.
Programming languages time-line/family tree (http://www.levenez.com/lang/history.html).
