A high-level computer programming language designed in 1964 by John George Kemeny and Thomas Eugene Kurtz (5)

I believe the answer is:

basic

(Other definitions for basic that I've seen before include "Fundamental, forming a starting point" , "Fundamental; alkaline" , "Fundamental or rudimentary" , "Fundamental, underlying" , "Simple form of language" .)

I've seen this clue in The Independent.

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