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

1 amichail 6 5/30/2025, 9:14:18 PM

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 (6)

slwvx · 4d ago

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

ottaborra · 3d 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 · 3d 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

pavel_lishin · 4d ago

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

Jtsummers · 4d ago

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

pavel_lishin · 1d ago

Boy, you weren't kidding.