minilanguage

Minilanguage is a term used in computer science and linguistics to describe a small, restricted language designed for specific purposes rather than general use. Minilanguages are characterized by a limited vocabulary or set of constructs and by a simplified or narrowly scoped syntax and semantics. They are often created to teach concepts such as parsing, interpretation, or compiler construction, or to provide a lightweight tool for embedding in larger systems as a domain-specific language.

In programming and formal language theory, minilanguages function as toy or educational languages. They typically employ a compact grammar that can be described with a small set of production rules, and their semantics are defined precisely, usually by an interpreter or a static translator. Some minilanguages are designed to be easy to parse and reason about, making them useful for theoretical experiments; others aim to be practical for small configuration tasks or scripting within a host application. Not all minilanguages are Turing complete; some intentionally restrict expressiveness to guarantee termination or to keep reasoning about programs tractable.

In linguistics and cognitive science, the notion of a minilanguage appears in studies that use simplified or artificial language stimuli to control for variables in experiments on grammar, learning, or processing. These minilanguages provide a controlled environment to test hypotheses about syntax, morphology, or processing load without the complexity of full natural languages.

Minilanguages are often contrasted with general-purpose programming languages and with larger domain-specific languages. They can serve as stepping stones for learners, as research tools, or as lightweight configuration or scripting options within larger systems. See also: domain-specific language, toy language, formal language.