What is a slightly less extreme equivalent to being "fluent" in a language?

Question

tl;dr: What is a less extreme (but still noticeable) alternative to the word "fluent", when saying e.g. "I am fluent in C++/Python/whatever?"

I think I can call myself "fluent" in C#, because I know the language and runtime very well, and I'm very familiar with the .NET framework's APIs and classes, etc.

I would like to claim the same thing for Python and C++. But while I can program in Python (I did so for an entire summer, making a website with Django), for example, I would not call myself fluent because my code isn't always "Pythonic" (e.g. using map/filter vs. list comprehensions), and I'm not too intimate with some aspects of the language and standard library yet (e.g. the introspection API, etc.).

Is there a word or phrase I can use on e.g. a resume to describe what I know?

I can think of "very familiar with", but is there a better word/phrase I can use?

of course most people grade themselves as a 7/10 regardless of their actual competency in a subject, I'd expect most interviewers to know this — jk., Sep 06 '11 at 08:37
@jk.: lol, really? Is this another "45.6% of statistics are made up on the spot", or is there a citation for this? I actually think I'd rate myself 9/10 on some subjects and 3/10 on others... — user541686, Sep 06 '11 at 09:15
can't find one for IT but i'd say this is relevant http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC3116466/ — jk., Sep 06 '11 at 09:46
*Conversant* means capable but less than *fluent*. See [my answer](http://programmers.stackexchange.com/a/154871/20011) to [At what point can I say I've “learned” a language?](http://programmers.stackexchange.com/q/154862/20011) for a little more detail, but in short: use the same terms you'd use to describe proficiency in a natural language. — Caleb, Dec 18 '12 at 17:21

score 30 · Accepted Answer · answered Sep 05 '11 at 20:48

30

Would "proficient" be useful, if not that, "competent". Both words suggesting a comfort with tasks given within a certain range.

answered Sep 05 '11 at 20:48

Irwin

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Oooh yeah they both sound great, I was totally blanking out! Thanks! +1 – user541686 Sep 05 '11 at 20:50
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Unless you think that "competent" applies in your situation but "proficient" doesn't, I'd recommend "proficient" over "competent". – compman Sep 05 '11 at 23:19
@compman: Yeah I agree, I was also going to use "proficient"; thanks! – user541686 Sep 05 '11 at 23:39

score 7 · Answer 2 · answered Sep 05 '11 at 23:38

If you are referring to a natural spoken language, one step down from fluent would be "conversant", such as "Fluent in French, conversant in Spanish."

For programming languages, I usually write something like: "Very experienced in C and C++, familiar with Python and C#". But I agree with Irwin that "proficient" seems to be one step below "fluent", so maybe it goes: fluent --> proficient --> familiar.

score 5 · Answer 3 · answered Dec 18 '12 at 13:26

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These are the terms I usually see in real application forms that allow you to pick it from a list:

Competent
Skilled
Experienced
Good
Full working capacity/capability

answered Dec 18 '12 at 13:26

Juha Untinen

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score 2 · Answer 4 · answered Dec 18 '12 at 16:43

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I'd say you are comfortable using the language. That does not imply you are an expert.

answered Dec 18 '12 at 16:43

dsocolobsky

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What is a *slightly* less extreme equivalent to being "fluent" in a language?

4 Answers4

What is a slightly less extreme equivalent to being "fluent" in a language?