Windows 10: Cortana cannot speak English!

Every so often Cortana pops up with a message saying that before she can help 'I must select a language she can speak'. There is a list of appropriate languages including of course English US and English UK My preference has been English UK (the region where I live) for speech --- but for the Keyboard English USA, otherwise not all the keys will work correctly on my Board. Often this does not satisfy Cortana, who changes my speech language to English USA after a restart BUT (and this is so annoying) even that does not satisfy her either, she still pops up to say she cannot help until I select a language she can speak which, so it seems, include English USA!

Both UK and USA language packs are installed and so are all updates (automatically).I have spent quite a lot of time trying to deal with this, experimenting with several different settings, in Settings and the input methods which are available from WinKey plus Space. Occassionally I hit on a combination, with English UK speech and English USA Keyboard, which satisfies her --- but only for a while. She has just started the same rigmerole again.

How can I sort this nonesence out permanently?

:)

 

Cortana not available.

I live in UK , speak English , but cannot get Cortana. Why..... please help.

Cortana- Original Title

 

Cannot add language pack in 32bit Windows 10?

Thank you for replying Vanessa. You said

As per my understanding you are trying to download another language in your computer

But that is not correct. I reside in the UK. My language is English UK.

I am trying to configure Cortana to speak in UK English.

But I cannot install the English EN language pack because there is no selection to download a language.

Please see the screenshot in my original post.

I cannot download under speech.

Without these downloads Cortana cannot speak.

 

That is strange. Sorry I can't help. I use US language, and US International keyboard settings without issue. I hope you find a solution.

 

clayto,
Since you are in UK, see if the following settings will help..................

Settings > Time & Language > left side, click Region & language > right side,
under Country or Region, click the pointer and select United Kingdom,
under Languages, you said you had English (United Kingdom) installed. If so, click English (United Kingdom) > click Set as default.
You will be asked to restart in order to use English (United Kingdom) as Display language. Please restart a bit later.
Did you also install English (United Kingdom) as Speech ?
If not, click English (United Kingdom) > click Options > left side, under Speech, click Download.
Still in the Time & Language page, left side, click Speech > under Speech language, click the pointer and select English (United Kingdom)
Restart computer.

Will Cortana complies this time ?

 

"Did you also install English (United Kingdom) as Speech ?"

I am only offered US English as an option. Is there an additional Speech UK pack to download / install? If so, I cannot find it. Can you advise?

My current setting is Region UK, Display UK English and KB USA English but Cortana does not work with this now.

 

Cortana doesn't worry about the keyboard, but needs the Speech language pack downloaded for UK to be consistent. Surprisingly clear. Cortana should produce a prompt for you to follow.

I think you have to go here:



and click options.. mine won't show an option to download 'cos it's already there.

I found it confusing.

 

Part of my reply in post #3.............................
Did you also install English (United Kingdom) as Speech ?
If not, click English (United Kingdom) > click Options > left side, under Speech, click Download.
Still in the Time & Language page, left side, click Speech > under Speech language, click the pointer and select English (United Kingdom)

In short, there are 3 areas that you need to set...........
Country & Region.................... United Kingdom
Language..................................... English (United Kingdom) , and set as Default which will require a restart
Speech.......................................... English (United Kingdom)

 

My location/region is set to Canada, my installed language is English US. Cortana would not work, even if I changed my location to US. I was prompted to select a language she could speak. The only option in the drop down was English US. I had to download and install the English Canada language pack and Speech pack. Then go Settings > Time & Language > Speech > Choose the language you speak with your device, and set it to English Canada. Cortana then worked. I set my language back to English US, Settings > Time & Language > Region and language >Language settings and Cortana continued to work. I then uninstalled the English Canada Language pack, but leaving the speech part still installed. Cortana works and my keyboard keys all line up. There may be an easier way, but that's how it unfolded for me.

 

I am getting more confused. When I click English UK all I get is the English USA alternative, nothing else. When I click Speech all I get is Pin to Start. No Options, no Download. I know that there are a range of options for English UK to download because I have seen them --- once. But I cannot find how to get back there. I will give it a rest and then try again

. But I am wondering if I am in the same place as you.

 

Your screenshot shows choice of 2 versions of English language under Speech Language.
You will pick/click....................... English (United kingdom).
That's it.
I don't understand what is the confusion.

Now confirm if that is what you are supposed to have..................
Country & Region.......................................United Kingdom
Language ....................................................... English (United Kingdom) Make sure it is set as default.
Speech ............................................................ English (United Kingdom)

If that is what you have, then go try using Cortana.

 

All I had initially, in that drop down was English (United States). I then wet to Settings > Time & Language > Region and language > and clicked the Add a language. I selected English Canada. There were two checkboxes shown during the install, one for the actual language pack and another for the Speech part. I checked both. Once I did that, I had English (Canada) as an option in the window you posted and selected that. Once I did that Cortana worked. My location was set to Canada so I guess she needed the Canada speech pack? After that I was able to change my language back to English US. The Speech setting stayed on English Canada. If I leave my language set to English Canada some of my keyboard keys get messed up.

As mentioned, select English UK and see if Cortana works.

My current settings are:
Country & Region.......................................Canada
Language ....................................................... English (United States)
Speech ............................................................ English (Canada)
And Cortana works.

 

1. At the moment, with language and keyboard both set to English UK my keyboard is screwed up, for example
@@@@@@ prints as """""""""
########## as ££££££££££
pipe as ~~~~~~~~~~ (I have not found what key is pipe yet)
"""""""""""" as @@@@@@
___________ as ---------------
I have not found a key to print backslash. I may discover other anomalies.


I dont want this. The only way I have found to stop it is to set keyboard to English USA.


2. At the moment Cortana is behaving, but she changes her mind every so often and suddenly decides to tell me that she cannot function until I change settings to a language she can speak, and that does not include English UK or English US! It was this aberation a few days ago that prompted me to post about my dilemma


3. I have been told to set the Speech language to English UK but to ensure it is also set as the default --- so far I have not found where to do that although I have tried to follow the directions.. The Download option which I am told can be found by clicking Speech has not appeared for me. I know that somewhere there is a list of options to which English UK can be set, because a little while ago I saw it briefly. But I have not been able to get back to that page despite repeatedly trying.


I will continue to try, though it has involved a lot of repetition of actions which I have foundd to be fruitless. Meanwhile I will set my keyboard back to English US again so I can use my keyboard correctly.

 

Speech is set in Settings > Time & Language > Speech > Choose the language you speak with your device
Language is set in Settings > Time & Language > Region and language >Language settings
If you go to Control Panel (large icons) Language, It will show you your display language and keyboard layout. Click Options and there are other keyboard layouts. Click preview to see the physical key layout. Find the one that matches your keyboard and add it. I'm guessing once you do that, you can switch your keyboard to that layout. I only went as far as preview. Everything is working for me, including Cortana. I have Speech set to English (Canada) and language to English (United Stats) and everything works.

 

clayto,
.................3. I have been told to set the Speech language to English UK but to ensure it is also set as the default........................

I did not tell you to set Speech, English (United Kingdom) to default.
I said set Language, English (united Kingdom) to default :
Country & Region.......................................United Kingdom
Language ....................................................... English (United Kingdom) Make sure it is set as default.
Speech ............................................................ English (United Kingdom)

See screenshots on how I did on my computer..............