R for Semantics

Abstract

A constructive criticism of recent work in the semantics of programming languages is offered. The criticism is directed not so much at the techniques and results obtained as at the use to which they are put. The fact that denotational (or "mathematical") semantics plays on the whole a passive ("descriptive") role, whil e operational semantics plays on the whole an active ("prescriptive") role, is seen as the basic problem. It is suggested that these roles be reversed.