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You compared writing small programs in python with taking years to learn a natural language. I pointed out that the two are not equivalent undertakings. It's no

• amichail 19y ago
  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.
  • geebee 19y ago
    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.
    • amichail 19y ago
      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.