Nowadays programming languages are getting more general and all-purpose, but they still have their specializations, and each language has its benefits and deficiencies. We can distinguish a few basic types of languages, though many of them maintain more than one programming style.
ü Procedural
Procedural languages perform a sequence of statements that lead to a result. In order to solve a problem a procedural language expresses the procedure to be followed. Procedural languages generally use many variables, loops and other elements of "state", which recognize the difference between them and functional programming languages.
ü Functional
Functional programs usually make use of recursive functions and focuses on the return values of functions. Functional languages are thought to be simpler syntactically, which make it easier to work on abstract problems. However, their programming model complicates understanding of how the code is translated into machine language, therefore it can be problematic for system programming.
ü Object-oriented
Object-oriented programming considers the world as a collection of objects that have internal data and external means of accessing parts of that data. By means of object-oriented language, the problem is divided into a collection of objects to solve a particular problem.
ü Scripting
Scripting languages are often procedural and may include elements of object-oriented languages, but they refer to their own category. Scripting languages tend to require little syntax to get started but may result in making a mess.
ü Logic
Logic programming languages let programmers make declarative statements and then allow the computer to reason about the consequences of those statements. Logic programming, in a manner, does not tell the computer how to do something, but place constraints on what it should consider doing.
To call these categories "language types" is a bit improper. It's possible to program in an object-oriented style in C, or a functional style in a scripting language. Practically, most modern languages incorporate features and ideas from multiple domains, which only serve to increase the abundance and usefulness of these languages.
2. In the text above find the words and word combinations that mean the following:
designed to be used for writing software in a wide variety of application domains;
disadvantages;
a class of functions that are defined using primitive recursion;
a sentence used to state an argument a fact or an idea;
misleading;
a very large quantity of something;
to make something more difficult to do, deal with, or understand;
a mathematical quantity which can represent several different amounts;
the rules that describe how words and phrases are used in a computer language.
3. Answer the following questions:
Is there a perfect programming language without any defects?
What do procedural languages perform?
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Do functional programs have complicated syntax?
How is a problem solved in object-oriented programming?
What features do scripting languages have?
What do logic programming languages let the computer do?
What is the function of multiple domains?
4. Listen to Matthew Brown, editor of LordMatt, on the following site http://cplus.about.com/od/introductiontoprogramming/p/programming.htm and answer the questions:
ü What is the C++ programming language?
ü Where is C++ used?
ü What are the benefits of C++?
5. Tell the partner about main features of basic types of programming languages mentioned in the text.
6. Read the text about some other programming languages.
Java is an object-oriented programming language that was designed to be portable and workable on as many platforms as possible. Therefore, Java can be found at the core of applications on and off the web, on all platforms, operating systems and devices. Nevertheless, Java is not a perfect programming language, as it got a lot of its syntax from earlier languages (C, C++).
JavaScript, (should not to be confused with Java) is a scripting language that was developed in the 90s. JavaScript is one of the fundamental technologies on which the web is based. JavaScript exists both in the context of connected applications and services and outside of the browser. The language itself is dynamic, and gives programmers the flexibility to use object-oriented programming styles as well as functional and imperative ones.
Python was developed in the 80s, it is open source and free to use, even for commercial applications. Python is usually used and referred to as a scripting language, which allows programmers to produce large quantities of easily readable and functional code at a fast rate and within a short time. In the meantime, it supports object-oriented, procedural and functional programming styles, among others. Thanks to its flexibility, Python is one of the most widely used high-level programming languages today.
Visual Basic is used to create programs for Microsoft Windows at an easy rate. "Visual" stands for the method used to create what the user can see - the graphical user interface, or GUI (graphical user interface). "Basic" is the acronym for Beginners All-Purpose Symbolic Instruction Code. With this language, it is possible to create useful programs being familiar with just a few of its features.
PHP is a common language for webpage design, and is sometimes used as a scripting language in *nix. PHP comprises features that make it easy to link to databases, generate HTTP headers, and so forth. As a scripting language, it contains a relatively simple set of basic components.
Visual C# is designed to easily and quickly create.NET applications, including Web services and ASP.NET Web applications. C# is a simple, type-safe, object-oriented language developed by Microsoft for designing a wide range of applications. Developers familiar with C and C++ can quickly become efficient in C#. C# provides intrinsic code trust mechanisms for a high level of security, type safety and garbage collection.
XML provides a format for describing structured data. This facilitates precise declarations of content and useful search results across multiple platforms. XML specifies information and data in accordance with purpose rather than presentation. XML is an increasingly important meta-markup language to use on the Internet. XML is not a replacement for HTML. The strength of HTML is in displaying information while XML is a way to describe information.
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7. Complete these sentences with the programming language from the text.
__________ is a general-purpose programming language created in the late 1980s, which is used by thousands of people to do different things from testing microchips at Intel to powering Instagram, building video games with the PyGame library owing to its availability.
___________ provides developers with access to the Microsoft.NET Framework - a reliable, thread-safe library of networking functions, collection classes, data access classes, etc.
__________started as an alternative to C++ with an extensive standard library. Due to its versatility it is used on many platforms.
Generally, ________ is used to supplement a functionality to your site that HTML alone can't achieve. It can perform all types of calculations and interact with databases.
You can easily create your own webpage using ____________.
_____________ is primarily a scripting language for use within HTML pages.
___________ is used on webpages and web services as well as for creating databases, storing and carrying data.
8. Answer the following questions:
What are the differences between Java and Java Script?
Why is Java so popular?
What is Python used for?
What is the key difference between XML and HTML?
Is it difficult to master Visual C# if you do not know C or C++?
Can PHP be embedded into HTML? Is it suitable for web development?
9. Tell the partner about programming languages mentioned in the text above, outlining their features.
10. Complete the list of programming languages. Try to remember at least four of them, name their characteristics.
LANGUAGE WORK
| LANGUAGE BOX | Compound adjectives | |
| Compound adjectives are made up of two words, usually with hyphens between them. The second part is often a past participle. ü A menu-driven program lets you select a command from a menu. ü A voice-activated product is activated by the user's voice. ü Object-oriented programming is based on objects and their effects on each other, rather than on a series of instructions. | Other common patterns include: noun + present participle ü Space-saving PCs take up very little desktop space. noun + adjective ü A hands-free device does not require the hands for operation. ü A stand-alone computer or business can operate on its own. | |
1. Study the LANGUAGE BOX and complete the sentences with the compound adjective.
A __________-___________ telephone lets people with limited mobility dial and answer the phone with just the sound of their voice.
A fax machine is a __________-__________ device, so it does not require any other device to function.
A _________-__________ application is operated by making choices from menus instead of giving instructions on a keyboard.
In our country, it is now obligatory to use a __________-__________ car kit when you use a mobile phone while driving.
An _________-___________ language like C++ allows the PC programmer to concentrate on individual units (e.g. a piece of text, a graphic or a table) and give each object functions which can be changed easily.
They've launched a new ___________-___________ computer, an entire PC embedded inside a keyboard.
2. Compare your answers with the partner.
GRAMMAR
1. Define forms and functions of the infinitives underlined in the text Basic language types . Use Grammar guide 3 to help you.
2. Choose the correct word (a-c) to fill in the gaps.
We use high-level languages because machine code is too difficult __________, understand and debug.
| a)read | b)reading | c)to read |
I went on the course _____________ how to be a better programmer.
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| a)learn | b)to learn | c)for to learn |
I'm not interested in _____________ that computer language.
| a)study | b)studying | c)to study |
He refuses _____________ the project with me.
| a)do | b)doing | c)to do |
The engineers warned the employees not ____________the cables.
| a)touch | b)touching | c)to touch |
They may not ______________ to the meeting.
| a)come | b)coming | c)to come |
Spyware can make your PC _____________ more slowly.
| a)perform | b)performing | c)to perform |
This program is too slow _____________ the simulation.
| a)do | b)to do | c)for doing |
3. Read the following article about Voice XML and its component and perform the following tasks.
| 1.Find the sentences with the Participle in the structural pattern: N+V3. Define its form and function. 2.Find Infinitives that are used as: a.a part of the Compound Predicate; b.a part of a Complex Object; c.an attribute; d.an adverbial modifier. 3.Find the sentences with the first Conditional. Change the forms of the verbs to make the second and the third Conditionals. 4.Put the verbs in round brackets into the correct form. Mind spelling changes. 5.Find sentences with subordinate clauses. Define their types. Use Grammar guide 5 to help you. SPEAKING Work in pairs. With your partner, decide what would be the most appropriate language to use for each of these situations. ü The owner of a small business wants to create a simple database program to keep track of his stock. ü A student wants to create webpages for a personal website. | Voice XML Voice XML is a concept based on XML that allows the access of Web Applications and content through phones. Speech based Telephone applications can be developed using Voice XML. The Voice XML has the following Components: ü Document Server ü Voice XML interpreter ü Implementation platform Document server allows the voice requests to be received from the interpreter and responds with Voice XML documents. Voice XML Interpreter interprets the Voice XML documents that it (to receive) from the document server. Implementation Platform generates responses with respect to the user requests. Voice XML depends greatly on the infrastructure of the Internet. Voice XML (to use) audio browser for input and output. The voice browser runs on the voice gateway, which (to connect) through Public Switched Telephone Network (PSTN). Components of Voice XML are: DIALOGS: There are two types of dialogs, Forms and Menus. Forms collect input from the user just as in HTML where data (to collect) in the forms. Menus provide a list of options for the user to select from. SESSION: A Session begins once the user begins to interact with a voice XML document. APPLICATION: It is a collection of Voice XML Documents. All the documents in a particular application (to share) the same root document. GRAMMAR: It specifies the set of allowable vocabulary to be selected from the menu for the user to interact with the Voice XML document. EVENTS: If there are any semantics errors in the Voice XML document, the Voice XML interpreter throws the Events. LINKS: It (to specify) a transition that is common to all dialog boxes. If the user input matches the Grammar, the link (to transfer) to the specified links destination. (Adapted from http://www.xml-training-guide.com/voice-xml.html) |
ü A systems programmer wants to add some new modules to an operating system.
ü A website designer wants to enable the data on his website to be easily processed by a number of different programs.
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ü A professional programmer wants to create and sell a program for use in language learning.
ü A website designer wants to password-protect a section of a website.
PROJECT WORK
Work in pairs. Make a presentation on one of modern programming languages and their main features. Define similarities and differences from other languages. Use PowerPoint to format it and Appendix 6 to help you. Report back to your group.
