Start from the basics. I recommend that you start with some scripting language and move after that to C++, Java or C#.

1. Python has clean and nice syntax for beginners (http://www.codecademy.com/en/tracks/python)
2. After that you could learn basics of JavaScript (http://www.codecademy.com/tracks/javascript)
3. Learn C++ (or Java or C# or some other compiled language)

Python + Javascript + C++ is a nice combo in many aspects and especially if you're targeting mainly Sailfish OS (In QML you can use Javascript, Qt is C++ and pyotherside is allowed in Harbour).

C++ is not easy but it makes you familiar with memory management, pointers, compiler errors and a lot of other stuff which is very important if you really want to understand programming at lower level without all the abstractions.