I think I can see a couple of possible problems with this suggestion:

1) As an attribute on the root <mods> element, language could not be
repeated,  I think.  The material being described may be in more than one
language.  The language element can be repeated as needed to cover all of
languages applicable to the material being described.
2) Using an attribute on the root <mods> element could invite confusion
about whether it represented the language of the material being described
or the content of the <mods> element.

Rick

At 09:48 AM 12/17/02 -0800, you wrote:
>Ray;
>
>If you wanted to avoid having an empty Language element you could always
>carry the language of the record as an attribute of the Record element
>itself.  This would allow language to have consistent behaviour across all
>elements - it's always an attribute and child elements inherit the
>attribute of the parent unless overridden.
>
>j.
>RLG
>Mountain View CA


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