You mean simplest to learn? By your way of question I can assume you mean simplest to learn.
Then, no C++ is by no means the simplest programming language to learn, and Perl is just like asking for trouble. Perl in 2 words -> "Spaghetti Code".
Theres the BASIC programming languages like VBA, Visual Basic 6.0 and Visual Basic.NET(Visual Basic.NET neat IDE from microsoft and you can get a free express edition too), theres also LibertyBasic, BlitzBasic and DarkBasic(designed for easy game programming).
Then theres scripting languages like javascript, vbscript, jscript and even just shell scripts. Then theres Python, Lua, Boo etc-etc.
*Ruby and PHP are very simple and good too, the thing is they are more specifically used for web development.
*Python unlike PHP and Ruby, is a general purpose language not specifically geared just on web development but more for faster prototyping, for example for whatever project in C/C++, you could do with Python a lot faster, plus the fact that its a lot less error prone than C/C++, especially as your program gets bigger, so less time DEBUGGING!(thats a lot of time saved, believe me), and you can try pieces of your code in the interactive shell, give Python a shot so you see what I mean.
*Python has an implementation in .NET called IronPython if you want to use VS.NET but you will have to purchase either a standard or professional version which isnt free. And a java implementation called Jython.
*HTML is not a programming language, if you ever want to start here though, start learning xHTML.
*(someone mentioned BrainFuck) BrainFuck maybe simple in terms of just how small the language is but i wouldnt suggest it as an easy to learn programming language.
*Cobol a very old language though not dead not very alive either, but its syntax is very much like english.
*Java its easy to learn compared to C/C++ and even perl, especially its older versions, less keywords and features, but now not only has it grown so much, there are now more easier programming languages to learn than java. The complexity of Java is not the language truly, its the HUGE API.
To give you an idea, here are 6 programming languages that prints a very basic "Hello World" text.
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DarkBasic:
REM print on screen Hello world
PRINT "Hello, world!"
REM wait for a key to be pressed
SUSPEND FOR KEY
REM end the program
END
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Lua:
print ("Hello, World!")
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Python:
print "Hello, World!"
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Java:
public class HelloWorld {
public static void main(String[] args) {
System.out.println("Hello, World!");
}
}
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C#:
using System;
class MyClass
{
static void Main()
{
Console.WriteLine("Hello World!");
}
}
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BrainFuck:
>+++++++++[<++++++++>-]<.>+++++++[<++++>-]<+.+++++++..+++.>>>++++++++[<++++>-]
<.>>>++++++++++[<+++++++++>-]<---.<<<<.+++.------.--------.>>+.
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and thus explains why BrainFuck is truly BrainF*ck! Imagine a more complex application other than just this simple program!, besides if I had to code something into a small architecture I'd rather do it in C or even worse assembly rather than in BrainFuck. BrainFuck cause your brain is gonna get F*cked!
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I vote Python(other than its many features and the fact that its cross platform and its ease of use, you can also use python on the game called Battlefield for MODs, and Python is also FREE!) or Visual Basic(FREE to use Visual Basic.NET 2008 express edition and really for its great Microsoft IDE, using Visual studio its gonna be like drawing and just editing code, very user friendly for beginners), Lua(if you want to have some fun scripting World of WarCraft MMORPG, and its simple to use and learn) for the simplest to learn for beginners, and possibly to keep you interested while learning it, I know many people want to do some programming on games, keeps it fun that way and WoW scripting is one way to go, IMHO.
Though after everything mentioned, it truly is up to you, learning languages is not really the challenge its more on implementation, besides you will have your own preferences on which tools are best for which task as you learn, later on.