[kps]

You can most definitely write write-only code in COBOL. Reading the words does not imply understanding the meaning. Prolixity leads to clarity in code just about much as it does in prose. (It's unfortunate COBOL style has taken over almost completely.)

[lenocinor]

Going to second the write-only COBOL thing. I've read real-world COBOL code that generated reports with legions of impenetrable variable names. Without the context of the business logic it was nearly impossible to understand at times.