Programming languages are designed not just for expression but for exploration—to enable ideas that wouldn't be accessible otherwise. A language is more than syntax and semantics; it's defined by its ecosystem and the exploratory power it provides. The study encompasses syntax, semantics, type systems, compilers, and tooling, with arbitrary boundaries between these areas. Language designers should embrace creating absurd and impractical languages to explore what doesn't yet exist, as historical examples like ALGOL and APL show how enabling new forms of expression changes computing.
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