testing of the lang attribute

Task Force,

In our original reply [1] to the HTML WG regarding the Overview of testing in view of CR [2] we reported the following in regards to the lang attribute:

 > 3.2.3.3 The lang and xml:lang attributes Screen readers can use the lang attribute to
 > perform language switching, allowing speech in the natural language specified. Since
 > this attribute can be used on any element, the TF believes testing is required to insure
 >its value is available to user agents in all contexts.

This level of evidence was rejected by the WG. During task force teleconference discussions, the following suggestions for demonstrating evidence weregiven:

* test AAPI's to see if that data is presented forward.
* search bugzilla for open bugs filed on lang or xml:lang

I have used the OSX Accessibility Inspector on OSX and UI Accessibility Checker and AccProbe on Windows to investigate whether or not the langattribute is available in any of the AAPI's.  I have not found any evidence that it is.

A search in bugzilla did not yield any valid, open bugs on the lang or xml:lang attribute.

Conversations with experts did not yield any evidence that interoperability issues currently exist for the lang attribute.

I am recommending that we not pursue this issue with the WG any longer.  Unless there are any objections by September 2, 2013, I will drop this issue from our next reply to the WG.

[1] http://lists.w3.org/Archives/Public/public-html-admin/2013Jul/0027.html
[2] http://www.w3.org/html/wg/tests-cr-exit.html

Best,

Mark

-- 
Mark Sadecki
Web Accessibility Engineer
World Wide Web Consortium, Web Accessibility Initiative
Telephone: +1.617.715.4017
Email: mark@w3.org
Web: http://w3.org/People/mark

Received on Friday, 16 August 2013 20:29:32 UTC