User Experience Stack Exchange
User Experience Stack Exchange

Questions tagged [language]

For questions regarding the use of language as a main part of any step of the UX process, from research to final products. This encompasses Cultural UX and Inclusive UX as well.

Language is a structured system of communication that consists of grammar and vocabulary. It is the primary means by which humans convey meaning, both in spoken and written forms, and may also be conveyed through sign languages. The vast majority of human languages have developed writing systems that allow for the recording and preservation of the sounds or signs of language. Human language is characterized by its cultural and historical diversity, with significant variations observed between cultures and across time.Human languages possess the properties of productivity and displacement, which enable the creation of an infinite number of sentences, and the ability to refer to objects, events, and ideas that are not immediately present in the discourse. The use of human language relies on social convention and is acquired through learning.

218 questions
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Is it reasonable to use language codes in an interface?

In an interface that supports multiple languages, is it reasonable to show them by their language code, or should the full names be used? eg: Select Language: En ❘ De ❘ Es ❘ Fr ❘ Pt ❘ Ru ❘ Zh Or is it better to use: Select Language: English ❘…
ideasman42
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How can humans read this correctly?

Surprisingly, the image below is readable to humans. It is not a specific language. How is this possible? 1N73LL1G3NC3 15 7H3 4B1L17Y 70 4D4P7 70 CH4NG3. 573PH3N H4WK1NG
Andy
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Should I hide the multi-language selection button/menu if my app has only one language currently?

Suppose my app may have multi language in the future, but currently has one language only. Should I hide the multi-language selection button/menu, in order to avoid a language menu with 1 item only? Originally I want to show the multi language…
ocomfd
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User suggestions in electronic dictionary

Let's imagine we have an electronic dictionary - it doesn't matter if it's a webpage, a desktop application or a mobile app. The question might also apply to an encyclopaedia. Every entry has the word (which was searched for) and the definition. An…
caw
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How to handle language detection and suggestion?

In a website that offers translated versions of the website in various languages (6), how should we handle language detection and suggestion? My theory is that: Users hate splash screens in which you have to choose a language before you arrive at…
user30094
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Does language preference depend on context?

Do people generally have different language preferences, whether we are talking Operating System, Phone or Website? My own preference is: Operating System: English Phone: Native Language Website: Native Language For some reason, an Operating…
forthrin
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Is it better to show common latin characters than language specific characters?

Just got the results of a very quick test we did for a multilingual app (test performed on people from US and Canada), and to my surprise I found that the word Espanol worked better than Español. This reminded me of a time when we had a lot of…
Devin
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From UX point of view, what is the rationale behind using location of device to select web-site language instead of device's language settings?

My question is exactly what is says in the title. I've noticed this behavior being common in web-sites and mobile phone applications getting content from the Internet and I do not understand why it is so common. For example, Google Play Store will…
AndrejaKo
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Best practice for documents in 2 languages?

Our website has many articles in English, and perhaps 20% have Spanish versions. These are very carefully translated, fixed texts (not translated on the fly). This is California so providing Spanish version where we can is important, but speakers of…
Chris
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Should shortcut keys (such as Ctrl+A) be global when switching a program into another language?

When I switch to another language rather than English in Libra Office I can't select my whole text with CTRL+A, because now I have switched to non-English language. Isn't it better to select text in every case like something that Microsoft Office…
Alireza
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English for Ireland

I am not sure is it a proper place to ask this question but I was not able to find more suitable SE site. If you can move it in a proper site it will be nice. My website supports US and UK English. I want to enhance English dialects or versions and…
TIKSN
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Best way to set user language

My current strategy for choosing a language to present a Web page or an app is: I look at HTTP Accept-Language from the browser, or "Locale Settings" from the phone, then: If the language is not English, then use this language. If the language is…
forthrin
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If current language option doesn't need to show, how to display a language selector?

According to https://ux.stackexchange.com/a/38982/111876, I don't need to display the current selected language option because the UI already provided this information. But I found it is difficult to display the language selector without current…
ocomfd
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Are users likely to change default text?

I have a site where somebody can set up and collect information using a Triangle test. The issue I'm facing is that there is standard and correct copy to use when presenting somebody with this type of question. I currently provide default text as…
alanj
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2 languages simultaneously on user interface?

We are building a data community for both the Chinese and the English market and we hope the audiences with different languages blend in as one. So we don't want to go with the traditional language switch for the entire user interface but instead…
datasn.io
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