NVDA switching between languages

[Maz Nikoui]

Hey all,

Just joining the NVDA group in the hopes of finding a soluition. 

I've been using the NVDA screenreader to read docs (specifically pdf) that are in other languages and it's been super helpful.  But I'm running into an issue when a document 2 languages in it. For instance, if the document has a section in Arabic followed by a section in English --  the system won't read the English.

Essentially, I'm looking for a way to toggle between langauges as I know the system is capable of reading both individually. 

I've even checked off the "automatic langauge switching" option, but to no avail.

Appriciate any insight or thoughts!

Maz

[Quentin Christensen]

Hi Maz, welcome!

NVDA can switch between languages IF the document specifies the new language (for instance, on a web page, you'd use the LANG attribute), and if the synthesizer is setup for the new language.  If you are using the default Windows OneCore voice (which is part of Windows) for instance, you would need to have the Arabic language pack installed in Windows.  If you were using eSpeak-NG then the languages are all included.  If you are using a third party synthesizer, then you'd need to double check with it.

Where you have a document with two languages in it, the reason NVDA may not switch to the second language (assuming you haven't disabled "Automatic language switching" in NVDA's speech settings - is likely that the document hasn't specified it.

هذه الجملة باللغة العربية ولكنني لم أحدد التغيير في اللغة

(That read, or was intended to read: "This sentence is in Arabic, but I haven't specified the change in language")

If you regularly want to toggle between languages and synthesizers manually, you might also consider the "Switch synth" add-on (search in the add-on store - press NVDA+n, then t for tools, then a for add-on store), which lets you setup keystrokes to easily do this (Many users prefer using different synths for different languages - NVDA will automatically switch language IN THE CURRENT SYNTH if it knows about the change, but it won't change synths automatically).

Kind regards

Quentin

--
***
Please note: the NVDA project has a Citizen and Contributor Code of Conduct.
NV Access expects that all community members will read and abide by the rules set out in this document while participating in this group.
https://github.com/nvaccess/nvda/blob/master/CODE_OF_CONDUCT.md
 
You can contact the group owners and moderators via nvda-user...@nvaccess.org.
---
You received this message because you are subscribed to the Google Groups "NVDA Screen Reader Discussion" group.
To unsubscribe from this group and stop receiving emails from it, send an email to nvda-users+...@nvaccess.org.
To view this discussion visit https://groups.google.com/a/nvaccess.org/d/msgid/nvda-users/8e042bdf-344a-4be6-8634-09d51eb40a3dn%40nvaccess.org.

--

Quentin Christensen

Training and Support Manager

NV Access

www.nvaccess.org 

Training: https://www.nvaccess.org/shop/

Certification: https://certification.nvaccess.org/

Subscribe to email updates (blog, new versions, etc): https://eepurl.com/iuVyjo

User group: https://groups.google.com/a/nvaccess.org/g/nvda-users

Other groups: https://github.com/nvaccess/nvda/wiki/Connect 

Mastodon: https://fosstodon.org/@NVAccess

Facebook: http://www.facebook.com/NVAccess 

[kers...@montana.com]

Hi,

 

There is a big difference between PDF and HTML or EPUB. In HTML and EPUB, the language attribute should be very clear and allow NVDA to switch. In PDF, it depends on the tagging, and with PDF, there is a lot of differences in the tagging that is done.

 

Best

George

--

[Maz Nikoui]

Thanks, Quentin.  

Yes, it seems that the root of the problem is in the document. But many thanks -- I'll play around a bit with your recommendations.

[Maz Nikoui]

Thanks, George. 

Yes -- the problem seems to be with how the document is tag of how it's defined. Not sure if there is a creative way around it since it's almost impossible to change all the documents..LOL

[Quentin Christensen]

In a situation like this, where you are working with documents created by others which are problematic, I'd usually try to do two things:

1) Ensure you've got a way of reading the document, fixing documents individually if needed, knowing how to change NVDA's synthesizer language manually, or using the switch synth add-on for instance)

and

2) Encouraging you to push back on wherever you are getting the documents from to encourage them to create more accessible files.  In the case of PDF files, I found this snippet on how to specify different languages for each page: Setting multiple languages for one PDF file. | Adobe Acrobat

Kind regards

Quentin

To view this discussion visit https://groups.google.com/a/nvaccess.org/d/msgid/nvda-users/cb134231-ae97-4ab5-abed-63a53619daa9n%40nvaccess.org.

[Noelia]

Also, the creators of the problematic document may consider to use an alternative format, perhaps more suitable for accessibility.

Here is George, imo the most qualified person that I know regarding knowledge about formats like EPUB (in comparison to PDF). Please George, if I'm wrong let us know, but I think that authors of your document may want to read the following information by DAISY Consortium:

https://daisy.org/info-help/time-to-use-the-modern-digital-publishing-format

In addition, if you are using NVDA 2025.2beta5, you can assign a command, from NVDA's menu, Preferences submenu, Input gestures dialog, to report the language of the text under the system cursor. This can be helpful to know the text language and if it's supported by the current synthesizer.

Hope this helps.

To view this discussion visit https://groups.google.com/a/nvaccess.org/d/msgid/nvda-users/CAKsDpFirR2JSdZZHrjmoQqRpXsTVhyp-4x6z26fdjznN0FnZbw%40mail.gmail.com.

[Anne Günther]

Hi,
there's an addon called "enhanced language detection". I'm using it
myself to switch easily between english and german, and also, to have a
smoother time with websites and documents that haven't any language
atributes set. For the most part, it works pretty well.
hth, Guenni