Language Attribute Check

Description

The “Language Attribute Check” evaluates whether all HTML elements using the lang attribute declare a valid BCP 47 language tag.

Example outcome

I noticed that all elements with a lang attribute use a valid language tag.

Impact

• Visual Impairments: Screen readers may mispronounce words, especially in multilingual content. Misinterpretation of tone or meaning (e.g., a French word read with an English voice).
• Cognitive Disabilities: Mismatch between expected language and how content is read or displayed can cause confusion, increase cognitive load, or hinder comprehension.

Fixes

To address inappropriate or missing lang attributes:

1. Locate the HTML element missing or with an inappropriate language attribute.
2. If missing, add a lang attribute to HTML elements that contain text in a language different from the document’s default.
3. Make sure the tag uses a valid language code.

Resources

• WCAG 2.2: Understanding Success Criteria 3.1.2
• WCAG 2.2 Techniques: Technique H58: Using language attributes to identify changes in the human language
• WebAIM: Document and Content Language