Start with Python, Google tutorial for python is good, google code jams, numpy, panda, opencv, scikit - even as beginner you will feel power of those frameworks even if you will run just tutorial apps/projects.
When it comes to high-level langauges like Java or .Net NLP and ML is so heavyweight and you don't have many useful libraries available. Scientists use Matlab,C or Python.
When it comes to high-level langauges like Java or .Net NLP and ML is so heavyweight and you don't have many useful libraries available. Scientists use Matlab,C or Python.