Why is Defining the Language of Content Important?
In order for web browsers to accurately render text and screen readers to accurately pronounce text, the human language must be declared. This is of paramount importance for accessibility and for web page parsing and Search Engine Optimization (SEO). The default language in which the page is written must be specified, as well as any parts of the page written in a language other than the page's defined default language.
Language of Page versus Language of Parts
Language of Page
Each web page must have the default human language of the page declared. This default language is the human language in which the all of - or the majority of - the page is written.
Language of Parts
If sections of content are written in a language different from the default language, the language of these sections must be declared.
Defining Language on Web Pages
Declaring the Default Language on Web Pages
To declare the default language of the content, utilize the ‘lang’ attribute on the opening tag of the web page. Ensure that the value of this ‘lang’ attribute corresponds to that language’s code in the ISO 639-1 Language Codes reference list.
So, for example, a page written in English would have a 'lang' attribute with a value of "en".
Declaring the Language of a Specific Part of a Web Page
Declaring the language of a specific part of the content is done by wrapping the text in a element and applying the ‘lang’ attribute to the opening tag. Ensure that the value of this ‘lang’ attribute corresponds to that language’s code in the ISO 639-1 Language Codes reference list.
So, for example, on a web page where the default language is English, if a paragraph, sentence, or even a single word is written in French, that section must be wrapped in a and have a 'lang' attribute with a value of "fr".
Defining Language in Microsoft Office
Similar to web pages, document created in the Microsoft Office suite of programs can also have their languages defined.
Both the default language of the document as well as the language of specific parts of the document can be defined.
Declaring the Default Language of Microsoft Office Documents
Although the Microsoft Office suite of programs is quite intelligent and can fairly accurately determine the human language of content automatically, it is always a good idea to ensure the correct default language is set. To do so, follow these steps:
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Select the “Review” tab from the ribbon menu.
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Select "Language" and then "Set Proofing Language".
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On the "Language" dialog box that opens, select the correct language
Declaring the Language of a Specific Part of a Microsoft Office Document
While the Microsoft Office suite of programs can fairly accurately determine the language of the majority of the content (the default language), it cannot reliably determine if a section or part of the content is written in another language. To set the language for specific parts of content, follow these steps:
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Highlight the text which is written in a language other than the default language.
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Select the “Review” tab from the ribbon menu.
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Select "Language" and then "Set Proofing Language".
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On the "Language" dialog box that opens, select the correct language.
Conclusion
Now that you understand the importance of defining the language of content and how to do it on web pages and Microsoft Office documents, make sure to help out your readers and make this an integral part of your content creation process!
Anthony has been in the MSP business since before the acronym existed. Managed IT once started as break-fix solutions and some light phone support.
Since then, he has seen the industry flourish into a landscape of platforms, cloud servers, software tools and AI . Tailoring network configurations and software stacks to the specific needs of each business.
In his current role, he focuses on proactive planning, ensuring clients can avoid potential issues altogether. This involves meticulous planning for enhanced business continuity, allowing swift resolution of any unforeseen challenges. What initially began as addressing "fires" through break-fix solutions has evolved into a proactive approach, ensuring that such issues are prevented from arising in the first place.
