"Denotational semantics are a great way to capture the meaning of a programming language" - big claim - what is the meaning of a programming language?

For example, if you able to capture what the meaning of a programming language is, then could you please demonstrate by communicating what "the meaning of the programming language" C is, for instance? This appears to be a nonsensical combination of words, as I do not recognise a programming language as having an intrinsic meaning?