The document provides an overview of programming languages, describing low-level languages like machine language and assembly language that are close to computer hardware, as well as high-level languages like FORTRAN, BASIC, COBOL, Pascal and Java that are closer to human language. It defines a programming language as a set of words and symbols used to write programs, and explains that low-level languages are difficult for humans but allow for efficient computer execution, while high-level languages are easier for humans but require translation before a computer can understand them.