How to Tag Multiple Languages in an Accessible PDF
Question details
The user needs to properly tag multiple languages and apply ISO language codes within a multilingual PDF to ensure it meets document accessibility standards.
- Product
- PDF Editor
- Device & OS
- not provided
- Scenario
- Editing the structural tags of a PDF containing multiple language taglines to ensure screen readers pronounce the text correctly.
- Observed behavior
- The user is looking for an efficient way to assign ISO language codes to specific text segments or taglines without manually tagging every single element from scratch.
Ensure you have the final finalized version of your PDF and a list of the corresponding ISO 639 language codes (e.g., 'en-US' for English, 'es' for Spanish) used within the document.
Manually Tagging Languages Using the Tags Panel
Use the accessibility Tags panel in your advanced PDF editor to specify language attributes for individual text elements, ensuring screen readers can correctly interpret multilingual content.
This method is ideal for documents with a few scattered foreign language phrases. It allows you to precisely target the exact text span that requires a different language code.
In your PDF editor (such as Adobe Acrobat Pro), navigate to View > Show/Hide > Navigation Panes, and select 'Tags' to open the document's structure tree.
Expand the tags tree and click through the elements until you locate the specific paragraph (<P>) or text span (<Span>) that is written in a different language.
Right-click the selected tag in the tree and choose 'Properties' from the context menu.
In the Object Properties dialog box, go to the 'Tag' tab. In the Language drop-down list, select or manually type the correct ISO language code (e.g., 'es-MX' or 'fr') and click 'Close'.
Run the built-in Accessibility Checker tool to confirm that all language tags are correctly applied and that the document passes accessibility standards.
Automating Language Tags with Actions or JavaScript
For large documents with repetitive multilingual taglines, utilize automated Actions or JavaScript to batch-process language tag assignments.
Handle Multilingual Documents Seamlessly with WPS Office
While advanced accessibility tagging may require specialized adjustments, WPS Office provides a robust, intuitive suite to create, format, and convert well-structured multilingual documents to PDF effortlessly.
- 1. Draft Multilingual Content: Open WPS Writer and type your content. Use the Review tab to set the appropriate proofing language for different text segments.
- 2. Apply Document Structure: Use WPS Writer's built-in Styles (Heading 1, Heading 2, Normal) to establish a logical hierarchy, which translates to better PDF tags.
- 3. Export to PDF: Click 'Menu' in the top-left corner and select 'Export to PDF'. Ensure you check the options that preserve structural metadata.
- 4. Review in WPS PDF: Open the exported file in WPS PDF Editor to review the layout, add bookmarks, and manage document properties seamlessly.
Frequently Asked Questions
What are ISO language codes in a PDF?
ISO language codes are standardized two-letter or four-letter identifiers (such as 'en' for English or 'fr-CA' for Canadian French). They are embedded in a PDF's properties and tags to tell assistive technologies like screen readers which language engine to use for correct pronunciation.
Can I set a primary language for the entire PDF document?
Yes. You can set a primary document language by going to File > Properties (or Document Properties), navigating to the 'Advanced' tab, and selecting your desired language from the 'Language' drop-down menu at the bottom of the window.
Why is tagging multiple languages important for PDF accessibility?
If a document contains multiple languages but lacks proper tagging, a screen reader will attempt to read the foreign text using the primary language's pronunciation rules, resulting in gibberish. Correct tagging ensures the screen reader automatically switches accents and pronunciation for a seamless reading experience.
How do I check if my PDF language tags are working?
You can verify your tags by running your PDF software's built-in Accessibility Checker, or by testing the document with a widely used screen reader like NVDA or JAWS to listen if the voice engine switches seamlessly between languages.
