The problem is that most people lack the proper compiler development background when discussing languages.

Most people without a proper CS background mix the language with the implementation.

A language is defined by:

- syntax

- semantics

- libraries

Everything above can be made available as:

- bytecode interpreter

- text parser based interpreter (like the earlier BASICs)

- compiler

- JIT

That is why it is absurd to discuss language A vs language B in regard to implementations, because any language can have all types of implementations.

It is always a matter of cost/benefit which type of implementation is used as default for a given language.