Tag Non-English Language Content
Tagging text with the language it is written in signals screen reader software (used by people with visual impairment) to switch to the appropriate language. The software will use the right pronunciation rules for that specific language.
The language attribute can be applied to the entire text on a page, or to a specific portion of the text. For example, Cette phrase est en français (This sentence is in French). If a phrase is wrongly pronounced within a screen reader, it may make content impossible to understand.
You don’t need to tag language when:
- words or phrases have become a common part of the English language. For example, rendezvous, chauffeur, café, are of French origin
- using technical terms common in certain professions—habeas corpus (legal), magna cum laude (academic), hematology, also spelled haematology (medicine)
- the words are a proper name, like la Croix Rouge (The Red Cross)
To tag content as a specific language:
- Highlight the applicable text
- Select the Set Language icon
from the toolbar - Choose an alternate language from the drop-down menu
The selected text will be highlighted in blue in the editor window
