Clarification needed on whether xml:lang is required

Hi everyone,

Page 78 of the CD02 draft spec for DITA 1.2 says, "Applications should
ensure that every highest level topic element explicitly assigns the
@xml:lang attribute."

An application could ensure that xml:lang attribute is explicitly
assigned, however this would make it out of compliance with the language
reference which says that xml:lang is not a required attribute for
topics. Currently the spec seems to be saying "applications should treat
xml:lang as being required" in one place, and "applications should treat
xml:lang as being not required" in another place. 

Can we remove this sentence from page 78 to remove the contradiction? I
think our intention to encourage use of xml:lang is fulfilled in the
next sentence which says, "Authors are urged to set the @xml:lang
attribute in the source language so that the translator may change it in
the target language." Applications can provide defaults and warnings to
make it easier for authors to remember to do this.


Su-Laine

Su-Laine Yeo
Solutions Consultant 
JustSystems Canada, Inc.
Office: 778-327-6356 

www.justsystems.com 
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