def METHOD_NAME (self, name, value):
    change = self._ncDict.get (name)
    if change:
        name = change
    if name in self._attrs:
        # multiple attribute of the same name are represented by a list
        children = self._attrs[name]
        if not isinstance(children, list):
            children = [children]
            self._attrs[name] = children
        children.append(value)
    else:
        self._attrs[name] = value