> I would propose:
> 
>   <xsl:mode default-action="clone"/>
> 
> I would suggest to consider the verb:
> 
>   <xsl:process/>
> or
> 
>   <xsl:processing-mode/>
> 
> instead of <xsl:mode/>
> 
> as we already have a "mode" attribute with slightly different 
> scope (template selection).

The idea is to make modes (the things named in the mode attribute of
xsl:template and xsl:apply-templates) first class objects that can have
properties; the properties would be declared as attributes of an xsl:mode
declaration; one of the properties is the choice of default template rules
for the mode. An xsl:mode declaration with no name attribute declares the
properties of the unnamed ("default") mode, just as an xsl:decimal-format
declaration with no name defines properties of the default decimal-format.

No doubt the choice of keywords will continue to provide entertainment for
some while; I tend to the view that when you hear people arguing the
spelling of the keywords, it's like when a sales prospect starts arguing
about the price; you can smell victory.

Michael Kay
http://www.saxonica.com/