[wcag2] 4.1 Identifying changes in language (was: Re: [wcag2] Language definition ('lang'/'xml:lang'))

I revised section 4.1 [1] of the 'HTML Techniques for WCAG 2.0' according to
the request [2] by Ben Caldwell. -- I changed some paragraphs and added a
note for HTML/XHTML differentiation, and I also added an additional (XHTML)
example, please see the attached file (<wai-ai-41.html>), where all changes have
been commented, too.

For simplification:

==============================

4.1 Identifying changes in language

Task: Use the lang or xml:lang attribute to identify the natural language
used in a document.

If you use a number of different languages on a page, make sure that any
changes in language are clearly identified by using the lang or xml:lang
attribute according to the HTML or XHTML version you use.

Note that HTML only offers the use of the lang attribute, while XHTML
(transitionally) allows both attributes or only xml:lang, respectively, since lang
was removed in XHTML 1.1.

<snip />

Example:

This example demonstrates the use of the xml:lang attribute defining a quote
written in German. This snippet could be included by an XHTML 1.1 document
where lang is not allowed.

<blockquote xml:lang="de">
   Da dachte der Herr daran, ihn aus dem Futter zu schaffen,
   aber der Esel merkte, daß kein guter Wind wehte, lief fort
   und machte sich auf den Weg nach Bremen: dort, meinte er,
   könnte er ja Stadtmusikant werden.
</blockquote

==============================

Note: The attached file is based on the markup used in the original file, so
it should be easy to exchange.

-- I hope that's a sufficient replacement for the former snippet, but please
send me your comments. I'd of course feel glad if it's really integrated in
the Techniques document :)


All the best,
 Jens.


[1] http://www.w3.org/WAI/GL/WCAG20/WD-WCAG20-HTML-TECHS/#lang-att_change
[2] http://lists.w3.org/Archives/Public/w3c-wai-gl/2004JanMar/0350.html


-- 
Jens Meiert
Interface Architect

http://meiert.com/