Newbie here, urgent help pls.... (development board ????)

hi all,

i am a newbie here.... i wish to utilise a PIC16C74 to control a sonar sensor.....

but i have a few problems, please help:

1. Is the development board used to flash the program into the PIC ?? any other uses ???

2. i happen to have the 'flashing board' for PIC16F874. can i use it to flash the PIC16C74 ???

3. what programming language do i have to learn ??? (i did very basic C programming b4)

thanks and pls reply soon

upz..... help please.