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

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  1. mmo
    Posts : 140
    Windows 10
       #1

    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!
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  2. Posts : 487
       #2

    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.

    Multi-Language usage: Microsoft has no clue. . . or doesn't care...-untitled-1.png

    Multi-Language usage: Microsoft has no clue. . . or doesn't care...-untitled-2.png
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  3. Posts : 487
       #3

    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?
    Last edited by ARC1020; 17 Jun 2016 at 21:10.
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  4. Posts : 11,247
    Windows / Linux : Arch Linux
       #4

    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
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  5. mmo
    Posts : 140
    Windows 10
    Thread Starter
       #5

    ARC1020 said:
    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?
    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.
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  6. Posts : 17,661
    Windows 10 Pro
       #6

    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.

    Kari
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  7. mmo
    Posts : 140
    Windows 10
    Thread Starter
       #7

    @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.
    jimbo45 said:
    .... and the whole computer switches to Turkish !!...
    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.
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  8. mmo
    Posts : 140
    Windows 10
    Thread Starter
       #8

    @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!
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  9. mmo
    Posts : 140
    Windows 10
    Thread Starter
       #9

    Ooop! Accidentally submitted twice. Can one delete an append again?
    (one can obviously edit it, but I would have prefered to simply delete it).
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  10. Posts : 17,661
    Windows 10 Pro
       #10

    mmo said:
    @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!
    Quote from my previous post, see highlighted part
    Kari said:
    ...
    ...
    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.
    ...
    ...
      My Computer


 

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