Full Idea
'Descriptive' semantics gives a semantics for the language without saying how practice explains why the semantics is right; …'foundational' semantics concerns the facts that give expressions their semantic values.
Gist of Idea
'Descriptive' semantics gives a system for a language; 'foundational' semantics give underlying facts
Source
Robert C. Stalnaker (Reference and Necessity [1997], §1)
Book Reference
Stalnaker,Robert C.: 'Ways a World Might Be' [OUP 2003], p.166
A Reaction
[compressed] Sounds parallel to the syntax/semantics distinction, or proof-theoretical and semantic validity. Or the sense/reference distinction! Or object language/metalanguage. Shall I go on?