RE: Variable references in path expressions

> >
> I have a problem with this interpretation. The lhs of "/" 
> iterates each item
> to establish the focus for evaluation of each item in the rhs 
> expression. Yes ?
> Now if each item is a QName, then this should be interpreted as a
> Name test. No ?

No.

The value of the expression "my:idea" is the string "my:idea", it is not the
value of the expression ./child::my:idea. Values are treated as values, not
as expressions to be evaluated.

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