title: What are good alternatives to SQL (the language)?
body: <p>I occasionally hear things about how SQL sucks and it's not a good language, but I never really hear much about alternatives to it. So, are other good languages that serve the same purpose (database access) and what makes them better than SQL? Are there any good databases that use this alternative language?</p>
  
  <p>EDIT:
  I'm familiar with SQL and use it all the time. I don't have a problem with it, I'm just interested in any alternatives that might exist, and why people like them better.</p>
  
  <p>I'm also not looking for alternative kinds of databases (the NoSQL movement), just different ways of accessing databases.</p>