[...]Disclaimer: I haven't read Dana Scott's source that you refer to.
Unfortunately, the C standard is simply not a precise, formal
document. This is well-known, and it's hardly C's fault: indeed
most of the applications of formalized descriptions of PL
semantics to practical programming languages postdates C's
invention; Dana Scott didn't introduce the term, "operational
semantics" until 1970, and it didn't start to make a serious
impact on languages until later.
Myself I've heard that term at university during the early 1980's.
In 1970 my "knowledge" about computers was on Star-Trek level only.
I just want to point out Algol 68's formal specification (pre-1970).
And provide this quote on "Operational Semantic" (from Wikipedia):
"The concept of operational semantics was used for the first time
in defining the semantics of Algol 68."
But Algol 68 was certainly outstanding here, concerning its formal
specification, compared to most other languages back these days.
Janis
[...]
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