[joefourier]

Because we're not verbally dictating instructions to the computer, we're writing them. Say you want to communicate that JSON object via chat to that programmer, how is this:

{"x":"bar", "y":"foo", "z":"foobar"}

Not the clearest way of communicating it?

For similar reasons, mathematical notation is used instead of explaining equations in plain English, despite mathematicians' audience not being computers.

Symbolic notation has value: while it takes more initial effort to understand, once you have grasped it, the result is far more concise, unambiguous and generalizable.