how to access the text of just the current element?

I'm currently using

  <xsl:template match="BIOGRAPHY//NAME">
    <xsl:param name="biography_id"/>

    <xsl:variable name="name_used_in_prose" select="."/>
    ...

  </xsl:template>

I use this variable later in string context; the text of any child elements
of a NAME that is matched are also included in the string.  I'd actually
like to exclude the text from any child elements.  What is the best way of
getting just the text from the current element?

Thanks,
Dave



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