Programming Languages, Natural Languages, and Mathematics Some social aspects of programming are illuminated through analogies with similar aspects of mathematics and natural languages. The split between pure and applied mathematics is found similarly in programming. The development of natural languages toward flexion less, word-order based language types speaks for programming language design based on general, abstract constructs. By analogy with incidents of the history of artificial, auxiliary languages it is suggested that Fortran and Cobol will remain dominant for a long time to come. The most promising avenues for further work of wide influence are seen to be high quality program literature (i.e. programs) of general utility and studies of questions related to program style. CACM December, 1975 Naur, P. analogies related to social aspects,pure and applied mathematics, language quality, language development, artificial auxiliary languages, literature, style, descriptive and prescriptive attitudes 4.20 CA751202 JB January 6, 1978 8:30 AM 2705 4 2705 2705 4 2705 2984 4 2705 3101 4 2705 1908 5 2705 2705 5 2705 2705 5 2705 2705 5 2705 3185 5 2705