1. A method for translating statements in a computer program stored in a computer readable storage device, comprising: processing a mnemonic in the computer program in the computer readable storage device having a user defined definition and a translator definition, wherein the definitions specify operations invoked when the mnemonic is processed; processing a first mnemonic command specifying the mnemonic and the user defined definition; interpreting the mnemonic in the first mnemonic command according to the user defined definition in response to a first interpretation setting provided when the first mnemonic command was last processed specifying the mnemonic and the user defined definition; processing a second mnemonic command specifying the mnemonic and the translator definition after interpreting the mnemonic according to the user defined definition; interpreting the mnemonic in the second mnemonic command according to the translator definition in response to a second interpretation setting provided when the second mnemonic command was last processed specifying the mnemonic and the translator definition; updating a global flag in a mnemonic table for the mnemonic indicating to interpret the mnemonic with the user defined or translator definition specified in a global mnemonic command having global scope in response to processing the global mnemonic command; and updating a local flag in the mnemonic table for the mnemonic indicating to interpret the mnemonic with the user defined or translator definition specified in a local mnemonic command having local scope in response to processing the local mnemonic command, wherein the local interpretation overrides the global interpretation indicated by the global flag.