'Performs the language independent string substituitions.'

def lang_independent_sub(self, text):

    (regexp, subsitution) = self.STRIP_SKIP
    text = regexp.sub(subsitution, text)
    text = xml_unescape(text)
    (regexp, subsitution) = self.STRIP_EOL_HYPHEN
    text = regexp.sub(subsitution, text)
    return text
