how did perl gain a reputation for being a write-only language
Write-only language Languages that are often derided as write-only include APL, Dynamic debugging technique (DDT), Perl,[3] Forth, Haskell, Text Editor and Corrector (TECO),[4] Mathematica and regular expression syntax used in various languages. Attributes that these languages have in common include a large set of operators and a syntax which encourages, or at least permits, the writing of very dense code. Some also have syntaxes which are very different from other languages, and some use different characters sets. The code below for example is Conway's Game of Life as written in APL2:[5]
British Sign Language BSL users campaigned to have BSL recognised on an official level. BSL was recognised as a language in its own right by the UK government on 18 March 2003, but it has no legal protection. There is, however, legislation requiring the provision of interpreters such as the Police and Criminal Evidence Act 1984.