Ask HN: Does CS underplay language choice while linguistics overplays it?

1•amichail•8mo ago

Computer scientists might argue that all programming languages are Turing complete anyway and the choice of which one to use is not that important.

But linguists seem to make the opposite argument with respect to natural languages.

Why?

Comments

pavel_lishin•8mo ago

I don't think either of those generalizations are accurate.

Jtsummers•8mo ago

Most amichail submissions don't make sense unless you assume they're high or using a random question generator.

pavel_lishin•8mo ago

Boy, you weren't kidding.

slwvx•8mo ago

Not sure I buy the idea that linguistics says that the specific language is important. Mb a reference?

ottaborra•8mo ago

Linguistic relativity seems to be a thing. Because of the differences I would think it could be inferred that an ordering amongst languages exists. In the least a partial ordering exists, so maybe some "specific" languages that are better exists

ottaborra•8mo ago

> Computer scientists might argue that all programming languages are Turing complete anyway and the choice of which one to use is not that important

Efficiency and the real world will eat them(comp scientists who think like this) up for breakfast

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