How to extract data from an element and not from its

Hi,

I can't find a way to solve this problem:

How do I extract the value of an element, without text in its children. E.g.
how do I extract from the next example the line 'This text is some test .'.

<text>This text is some test <emph>text</emph>.</text>

I think I am overlooking a simple function, but can't seem to find it.

Martijn Peeters,
Twin Design