In the context of programming language design, a lisp like Clojure would be simple if you ignored all the java things. Haskell is a simple-ish language (despite popular misconceptions).
For me, “simple” needs to be distinguished from “familiar”. Most of the time, people think whatever is familiar is simple, but that just makes the word “simple” less useful. The von Neumann style of programming introduces tremendous complexity.
I would probably agree that C is simple in design. I’m not sure, because I’m not extremely proficient in it, but I think I agree. Although it has tons of complexities in practical use… So perhaps it’s easier to speak of (and compare) the simplicity of higher-level languages.
For me, “simple” needs to be distinguished from “familiar”. Most of the time, people think whatever is familiar is simple, but that just makes the word “simple” less useful. The von Neumann style of programming introduces tremendous complexity.
I would probably agree that C is simple in design. I’m not sure, because I’m not extremely proficient in it, but I think I agree. Although it has tons of complexities in practical use… So perhaps it’s easier to speak of (and compare) the simplicity of higher-level languages.