programming language

vocabulary and signs through which one is able to give an operational command to the computer

A programming language is an artificial language that can be used to control the behavior of a machine, particularly a computer. Programming languages, like natural languagess, are defined by syntactic and semantic rules which describe their structure and meaning respectively. Programming languages often (but not always) formally specify syntax and semantics to make them easier to parse and interpret.
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Noun
1. (computer science) a language designed for programming computers
(synonym) programing language
(hypernym) artificial language
(hyponym) algorithmic language
(classification) computer science, computing

An artificial language that is used to generate or to express computer programs. Note: The language may be a high-level language , an assembly language , or a machine language . (188 )

<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.
Another major distinction is between imperative languages and declarative languages.
Programming languages time-line/family tree.
(2004-02-18)

Ousterhout's dichotomy