Lesson Notes By Weeks and Term - Senior Secondary School 1

TERM: 2^nd Term

WEEK: 3

CLASS: S.S. 1

DATE:

SUBJECT: Computer Science
TOPIC: Programming language

Programming Language

This is a process that results in the development of a set of detailed instructions following a pattern of a particular programming language necessary to solve a problem. A programming language is a formal constructed language designed to communicate instructions to a machine, particularly a computer. Programming languages can be used to create programs to control the behavior of a machine or to express algorithms. A vocabulary and set of grammatical rules for instructing a computer to perform specific tasks. High-level programming languages, while simple compared to human languages, are more complex than the languages the computer actually understands, called machine languages. Each different type of CPU has its own unique machine language.

Levels of Languages

Each language has a unique set of keywords (words that it understands) and a special syntax for organizing program instructions.

• Machine language
• Low level language
• High level language
• Natural level language

1. Machine language: This was the first level of language known to man. It involves the use of binary digits ie 0s and 1s to write programs and instructions.
2. Low level language: This was the next language developed after the machine language. It involves the use of binary code.
3. High level language: They are highly developed languages and are currently used by programmers in the world today. It involves the use of English to write programming instructions. The invention of high level language has made it easy for programmers to develop programs in the shortest possible time. 

Types of high level programs

• BASIC
• FORTRAN
• COBOL
• PASCAL
• C – Language (C++)
• JAVA

1. Natural language: This involves different types of languages known to mankind e.g. Igbo, Yoruba, Hausa, Chinese, Ghanaian languages.

ASSESSMENT

1.  _______ is a formal constructed language designed to communicate instructions to a machine, particularly a computer
   (a) programming language
   (b) natural language
   (c) Igbo language
   (d) Yoruba language
2. Levels of language include the following except
   (a) Machine language
   (b) human language
   (c) low level language
   (d) high level language
3. The language the computer actually understands is called
   (a) man language
   (b) animal language
   (c) machine language
   (d) mechanics language
4. _____ involves the use of the use of binary digits i.e. Os and 1s
   (a) low level language
   (b) machine language
   (c) natural language
   (d) high level language
5. These are examples of high level programs except
   (a) FORTRAN
   (b) COBOL
   (c) JAVA
   (d) D++

ANSWERS

1.  a
2. b
3. c
4. b
5. d