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In the last two weeks, I have programmed in the following different computer languages:
- COBOL
- RPG
- CL
- Java
- ASP
- VBscript
- VBA
- TSQL
I'm not pointing this out to try to brag or anything, but just to try and make a point. Computer programming languages are a lot like normal languages...they each have their own syntax (grammar), their own reserved words (vocabularies), and their own structure (punctuation). Each one does things in a slightly different way than the others, and compilers are extremely unforgiving when it comes to mistakes. In COBOL, for example, leaving off a period where you meant to put one can completely change the behavior of the program. In ASP, a missing % can ruin your output. Java won't even compile a program if you leave off a }.
However, the basic concept is generally the same between languages, and virtually all programmers have to use more than one language on an almost daily basis. I'm certainly not unique in that regard. Once you understand the basics of programming in one language, you can pick up others fairly quickly. What kills you are each language's quirks that really separate it from the others, and knowing how each is actually used in practice. It's kind of like listening to someone speak who has just recently learned English...what they say might technically make sense, but you can tell that it's not their primary language because it's not how people normally speak.
For me, switching back and forth between 8 different languages is an accomplishment. Imagine someone trying to do that with spoken languages!