Scripting
The scripting language allows the user to control and influence the behaviour of the game engine. It is in its structure similar to real programming languages. With the large amount of scripting commands you can create dynamic processes happening during a mission. That is, for instance, a camera cutscene or custom interactions between the player and AI units. The scripting engine was designed to be very simple while remaining unlimiting for the scripter.
Requirements
You don't need any requirements to learn using the scripting language. You should be familiar to mission editing though, as this is the base for any scripting needs.
Getting Started
The first little code in every programming language is usually a small "Hello World" program. It is meant just to display this simple text.
Open up the mission editor, create a custom unit for the player and write the following code into its init line:
hint "Hello World!"
This code is very simple: The command hint displays the given text on the upper right side of the screen. The code is executed when the mission starts, since this is what the init line does.
Learning Scripting - A Tutorial
If you want a really quick tutorial for ArmA 2, have a look at External Scripting Quickstart (ArmA 2). For a more in-depth tutorial, read the article Introduction to Scripting to get introduced into the scripting language of Armed Assault or ArmA 2. You will read why one needs scripting at all and how the basics work.
Afterwards the article will point you to other articles telling you more about the scripting language.
Introduction to Scripting (Armed Assault or Arma 2) >>