Windows 10: Multi-Language usage: Microsoft has no clue. . . or doesn't care...

I claim: Microsoft has no clue how people use their systems when it comes to dealing with multiple languages! Or they don't care..

I am using my computer frequently in different languages, mostly English and German, sometimes even mixed in the same document or even the same sentence!
Since constantly switching the keyboard layout would drive me nuts be cause of the constantly switching key-layout I grew accustomed to use the "English-International" keyboard. With a couple of "dead keys" I can create all accented Latin characters I need!

So, for the keyboard there is a solution. But for the spelling checker this does not work! With that keyboard selected, it assumes English as the languages and thus puts red "wiggles" under each German (or other) word that I write in emails or Word documents! Why can one not choose two (or more) languages to be both recognizable? My Android-tablet proves that this is perfectly possible and working excellent. But in Windows and MS Office since >15 years? Naah! Not supported!

The same catastrophe for pen-input! Since the handwriting recognition obviously works based on a dictionary one has absolutely no chance to decently ink in a mix of two languages. Whatever language one chooses, all words in the other get distorted or misspelled. But constantly switching the input-language while inking is simply too distracting and plain infeasible!

Again: Android shows, that this is obviously possible! Why is MS not adopting such advances but sticks to input principles developed somewhen back in the 90s? The world gas become global! There are millions of people out there that constantly have to deal with and to communicate using multiple languages during their work and leisure! Our computers have to keep up with that!

:)

 

multiple language support for E71

Has it been improved. If yes, pls advise how to install the software into our E71 handset.

I believe tht to view multi language in our E71 handset is very important to all user.

It is just like we buy a computer. Microsoft allows us to view multi languages.

 

How to STOP Auto Login of last user - Windows 10

Makes you wonder whether Microsoft just doesn't care, or whether they really have no clue how to fix this.

 

Yeah, could be better, especially their solution to typing accented letters.

Still, I'm not sure about all programs, however the Mail app for example should spell check in the language that you're typing in. Assuming you're typing, because it does [incorrectly] underline words when you paste text instead of typing.

Go to Start > Settings > Time & Language > Region & Language. Do you have two separate languages set in 'Settings'? If not add a second language (making sure the Default Language (Main Windows Display Language) remains set to the language you want Windows to be in).

Then use the language selector (Microsoft call it 'Input Indicator') on the right-hand side of the Windows taskbar to switch between the language you want to type in (or use Windows Key + Space Bar to switch language instead as it's quicker). Spell check whilst typing in the Mail app will be for the language you have selected in the taskbar I.E <ENG> or <GER>.

There's also the option to download a Handwriting module, but it's not something I've used myself.

 

Ah, ignore that, I think I misunderstood the post. I think what you're saying is that you don't want to have to physically switch between languages, but rather windows should automatically detect what language you're typing/writing in based on the languages you already have setup?

Just out of curiosity, how does Android handle for example the sentence "Those olives are bitte"? Does it highlight that the word 'bitter' is misspelt, or ignore it as it's a valid German word?

 

Hi there

OFFICE DOES give you language choices - even for obscure languages you can also get a "LIP" - Language interface pack.
Dictionary alnd help files also available in many languages plus I believe you can create a custom dictionary.

https://support.microsoft.com/en-gb/kb/322198

Same for Windows itself - you will need though at least the PRO edition then you can choose your language or Interface -- you though will have to re-boot if you want to use a different language in Windows as the interface -- and note also that to use various languages the relevant BASE language must be the one windows was installed with.

Language packs - Microsoft Windows


As for switching languages while typing --I think you are asking for the impossible here as previous poster says --what happens if you type a word that's the same in a zillion languages or say type something by mistake that for example is Turkish -and the whole computer switches to Turkish !!.

I believe though you can suggest input methods which should obviate too much re-starting applications --I've written Dutch and Icelandic documents from English version of Word without it going bonkers. !!

Enable or change a keyboard layout language - Office Support

Cheers
jimbo

 

Actually, in Android things work a bit different: The application doesn't do any spell checking at all AFTER the writing!
It is during input/typing, where right above the onscreen keyboard there is a line offering a choice of possible completions, which one can pick to insert the entire word. Those completions are initially based on a dictionary (or two or more dictionaries) but over time they get adapted to your writing history. And I can say, its quite amazing how good these predictions get after a while! Most words require just 1-2 keys plus a third touch to pick the word. If one injects a word from the other installed language(s) one typically has to write more characters until one gets a matching suggestion (I guess simply, because its probability is much smaller).

Windows does a similar thing with the onscreen keyboard, although my impression is, that the adaptation is not quite as strong and I have never seen it offering words from different languages.

To come back to your question: here the keyboard offered "bitter" as the most likely choice after entering the first three characters.

 

I have nothing to offer to you regarding your original post, except a tip which is at least worth to mention:

I need four languages, Finnish and Swedish plus the ones you are using English and German. By selecting Swedish keyboard layout (input language), I can type all four because it uses the basic English set of letters and characters plus the Scandinavian Åå, Ää and Öö.

Swedish layout is QWERTY instead of German QWERTZ but I guess you are already used to Z and Y switching places in German and English layouts. The Öö and Ää in Swedish layout are the same keys than they are in German layout, meaning using it you can type most of German (Swedish layout does not have ß and Üü) and all of English.

Of course I know learning a new keyboard layout takes some time but I thought you might be interested in this.

 

@jimbo45:
I am well aware of the LIPs and how to change the system language but that is not what I meant here. I am talking about the input language, not the system or UI language. Sorry, if my append didn't make that clear enough.

That should definitely never happen that it switches the system language with the input language! But I think that is actually not the case - at least I never observed that. It is only the keyboard's layout and its labeling that switches, not the entire UI like menus and errors messages, etc.

 

@Kari: thanks for the hint! Does it also know ü/Ü and ß, which we use in German? Well -I'll give it a try!
Cheers!

 

Ooop! Accidentally submitted twice. Can one delete an append again?
(one can obviously edit it, but I would have prefered to simply delete it).

 

Quote from my previous post, see highlighted part

 

Hi there

whatever keyboard you use don't forget there are special characters also you can define for missing stuff for example umllauts or the Euro symbol when using USA (some) keyboards for example.

I was confused by what the original poster meant as I also usually use 4 / 5 languages -English/Icelandic/Dutch (and Flemish)/German and French/

Icelandic keyboard is pretty versatile with most of the symbols -- French is the mega odd one out - If I have to use a lot of French then I find it actually better to plug an AZERTY keyboard as using a QWERTY type keyboard with French is a total pain. !!!

English of course is the easiest to type using a "Generic" keyboard - very minor differenced between US and GB versions - some special symbols. Also English isn't plagued with accents, umlauts etc etc !!!!

as far as input language typing is concerned - whatever keyboard you use Ms word can create Custom Dictionaries - in whatever language you like --even J.R Tolkien's Elvish (From the Lord of the Rings) if you want.

Unlike a mobile phone which can use predictive text (I Loathe that myself and disable it) I think applications like Ms word usually only spell check AFTER typing --not sure though here. Depends on how you work --I tend to prefer to create whole document and then proof read and correct errors after typing etc. - depends on your preferences and way of working.

I think there may be some "dynamic spell and syntax checkers" out there but to me they would be a nuisance while I'm working. Of course YMMV on this one.

@Kari -- I suppose Finnish should be even easier - isn't nearly every letter some type of "a" or every word consists of multiple nrs of "a"'s. !!!!!!

Cheers
jimbo

 

MS Office has own spell checkers in many, many languages which could be downloaded and I think from version 10 could be set to check spelling as you type and even fix spelling as you type. There are also grammar checking and fixing addons. Spell check changes from language to language according to keyboard language used to write.

 

Sorry! Those that can and actually *do* read clearly have an advantage! *Wink