Hi,
I'm trying to implement the element-based localization and I found the spec unclear with regards to the inheritance of th xml:lang attribute and I would like to propose some improved text.
First, this attribute is listed as an optional attribute of the widget element
but the widget element is not localizable, so one does not understand why.
Then, many other elements (author, preference, icon, content ...) don't list
this attribute and are not localizable but they can inherit the value of this
attribute. The rest of the elements may have the attribute specified or
inherited and use it for localization.
The paragraph explaining this behavior says:
"If an element is marked as being localizable via xml:lang with the word "no", it
means that the element is not localizable via element-based localization. In other words, exclusion
of an xml:lang on an element indicates that that element is unlocalized content, except in the
case whereby a parent element uses xml:lang (this maintains consistency with the behavior of
xml:lang as specified in the [XML] specification). Explicitly declaring xml:lang overrides any
xml:lang value inherited from a parent element."
I think this paragraph (especially the last 2 sentences) are unclear. I would
propose that you clarify as follows:
"As per [XML] specification, the xml:lang attribute can be specified on any element, including
in the widget namespace, and the normal behavior for this attribute shall be applied (i.e.
inheritance processing, and propagation of the xml:lang attribute on elements on which it is not
specified). However, in this specification, the value of the xml:lang attribute (inherited or
specified) shall be used for element-based localization only on the elements that indicates
"Localizable via xml:lang: Yes.""
I would also propose to remove the definition of the xml:lang attribute such as:
"xml:lang
Authoring Guidelines:It is optional for authors to use the xml:lang attribute
with an name element."
because even if not written, XML allows specifying this attribute on any
element.
Finally, I would also create some tests in the test-suite to check that
inheritance is applied and used or not depending on the element type.WDYT?
Best regards,
Cyril
--
Cyril Concolato
Maître de Conférences/Associate Professor
Groupe Mutimedia/Multimedia Group
Département Traitement du Signal et Images
/Dept. Signal and Image Processing
Ecole Nationale Supérieure des Télécommunications
46 rue Barrault
75 013 Paris, France
http://tsi.enst.fr/~concolat
