COBOL
COBOL stands for Common Business-Oriented Language. It was the first high-level language de-signed for business applications (data processing)rather than scientific applications and is still the most commonly used language on mainframe computers．Its availability on microcomputers has been relatively recent, and may have encouraged the use of micro-computers in business (including their use for developing mainframe software)。
The lexical aspect of the language reflects an optimistic attempt to make programs readable by non-programmers, e.g. managers．Mathematical notations avoided, resulting in verbosity．
COBOL is strongest on data definition, particularly on representation of data for output. Data is defined in the data division part of a program. The division has sections for defining files (for input-output), variables and constants．Files are composed of records and sub records, with level numbering．
Statements appear in the procedure division. A statement generally comprises a verb and operators, such that it reads as an English sentence in the imperative．
COBOL is very weak on program structuring. There are no procedures or functions．The nearest equivalent is the paragraph (or group of paragraphs)called by a PERFORM statement．
The continued widespread use of such an archaic language as COBOL can perhaps be explained by the fear of change and the availability of commercial packages and application generators．
翻譯：
COBOL語言
COBOL代表通用面向商業(yè)的語言。它是被設(shè)計(jì)用于商業(yè)應(yīng)用（數(shù)據(jù)處理）的第一部高級(jí)語言、而不是反于科學(xué)應(yīng)用的語言。目前，它仍然 是用于大型計(jì)算上的最常用的語言。它在微型計(jì)算機(jī)上的應(yīng)用還是近年來的事，它可以促進(jìn)微型計(jì)算 機(jī)在商業(yè)方面的應(yīng)用（包括開發(fā)三 機(jī)軟件方面的應(yīng)用）。
該語言在詞法方面的特點(diǎn)反映出一種樂觀的嘗試，即程序可由非編程人員（例如經(jīng)理）閱讀。它避免了數(shù)學(xué)符號(hào)，卻導(dǎo)致了程序的冗長(zhǎng)。
COBOL對(duì)數(shù)據(jù)定義，特別是對(duì)輸出數(shù)據(jù)表示出極強(qiáng)的功能。數(shù)據(jù)是在程序的“數(shù)據(jù)部”部分加以定義 的。該部分具有如下的各種“節(jié)”：定 義文件節(jié)（用于輸入／輸出）。定義變量節(jié)及定義常數(shù)節(jié)。文件由記錄及子記錄組成，帶有級(jí)編號(hào)。
語句出現(xiàn)在過程部。一條語句通常一個(gè)動(dòng)詞及幾個(gè)操作數(shù)，這樣，語句就可以象英語祈使句一樣加以讀出。
COBOL在程序結(jié)構(gòu)上很弱，它沒有過程或函數(shù)最相近的等價(jià)物是“段（或者 段組），被稱做PERFORM語句。
象COBOL這樣一種陳舊的語言 還繼續(xù)廣泛應(yīng)用，其原因或許是人們擔(dān)心商業(yè)軟件包及其應(yīng)用生成程 序的改變及其應(yīng)用性。
COBOL stands for Common Business-Oriented Language. It was the first high-level language de-signed for business applications (data processing)rather than scientific applications and is still the most commonly used language on mainframe computers．Its availability on microcomputers has been relatively recent, and may have encouraged the use of micro-computers in business (including their use for developing mainframe software)。
The lexical aspect of the language reflects an optimistic attempt to make programs readable by non-programmers, e.g. managers．Mathematical notations avoided, resulting in verbosity．
COBOL is strongest on data definition, particularly on representation of data for output. Data is defined in the data division part of a program. The division has sections for defining files (for input-output), variables and constants．Files are composed of records and sub records, with level numbering．
Statements appear in the procedure division. A statement generally comprises a verb and operators, such that it reads as an English sentence in the imperative．
COBOL is very weak on program structuring. There are no procedures or functions．The nearest equivalent is the paragraph (or group of paragraphs)called by a PERFORM statement．
The continued widespread use of such an archaic language as COBOL can perhaps be explained by the fear of change and the availability of commercial packages and application generators．
翻譯：
COBOL語言
COBOL代表通用面向商業(yè)的語言。它是被設(shè)計(jì)用于商業(yè)應(yīng)用（數(shù)據(jù)處理）的第一部高級(jí)語言、而不是反于科學(xué)應(yīng)用的語言。目前，它仍然 是用于大型計(jì)算上的最常用的語言。它在微型計(jì)算機(jī)上的應(yīng)用還是近年來的事，它可以促進(jìn)微型計(jì)算 機(jī)在商業(yè)方面的應(yīng)用（包括開發(fā)三 機(jī)軟件方面的應(yīng)用）。
該語言在詞法方面的特點(diǎn)反映出一種樂觀的嘗試，即程序可由非編程人員（例如經(jīng)理）閱讀。它避免了數(shù)學(xué)符號(hào)，卻導(dǎo)致了程序的冗長(zhǎng)。
COBOL對(duì)數(shù)據(jù)定義，特別是對(duì)輸出數(shù)據(jù)表示出極強(qiáng)的功能。數(shù)據(jù)是在程序的“數(shù)據(jù)部”部分加以定義 的。該部分具有如下的各種“節(jié)”：定 義文件節(jié)（用于輸入／輸出）。定義變量節(jié)及定義常數(shù)節(jié)。文件由記錄及子記錄組成，帶有級(jí)編號(hào)。
語句出現(xiàn)在過程部。一條語句通常一個(gè)動(dòng)詞及幾個(gè)操作數(shù)，這樣，語句就可以象英語祈使句一樣加以讀出。
COBOL在程序結(jié)構(gòu)上很弱，它沒有過程或函數(shù)最相近的等價(jià)物是“段（或者 段組），被稱做PERFORM語句。
象COBOL這樣一種陳舊的語言 還繼續(xù)廣泛應(yīng)用，其原因或許是人們擔(dān)心商業(yè)軟件包及其應(yīng)用生成程 序的改變及其應(yīng)用性。