Multi-Language Dictation
TalkWriter supports 100+ languages and makes it easy to switch between them. Whether you work in multiple languages daily or occasionally need to dictate in a different language, this guide covers everything you need.
How to Switch Languages
Step 1: Open Settings
Press Cmd + , to open TalkWriter Settings.
Step 2: Go to Language Settings
Click the Language section.
Step 3: Select Your Language
Choose your target language from the dropdown. The list is organized by region and includes language codes (e.g., en-US, es-ES, ja-JP).
Step 4: Start Dictating
Close Settings and press Fn. TalkWriter now recognizes speech in your selected language.
Language Switching Tips
| Tip | Why It Helps |
|---|---|
| Set the language before dictating | Manual selection is more accurate than auto-detect |
| Avoid mixing languages in one dictation | The speech engine works best with a single language per recording |
| Switch languages between dictations | Change the setting, then start a new Fn press |
| Use the Dictionary for names | Add proper nouns that exist across languages (company names, product names) |
| Speak at a natural pace | Do not slow down for non-English languages — natural speed works best |
Tips by Language Group
Romance Languages (Spanish, French, Italian, Portuguese)
- Speak with clear vowel sounds — these languages are vowel-heavy.
- Proper nouns from English may be misheard. Add them to your Dictionary.
- AI Polish handles these languages well for punctuation and grammar.
East Asian Languages (Japanese, Korean, Chinese)
- TalkWriter handles character conversion automatically.
- For Japanese, speak naturally and the engine handles kanji/hiragana/katakana selection.
- For Chinese, Mandarin (Simplified and Traditional) and Cantonese are separate language options.
South Asian Languages (Hindi, Bengali, Tamil, etc.)
- Set the specific language variant rather than relying on auto-detect.
- Banglish (Pro feature) is available for Bangla speakers who prefer typing in English letters.
- Add technical terms in English to the Dictionary — they often appear in South Asian language dictation.
Arabic, Hebrew, and RTL Languages
- TalkWriter outputs text in the correct direction for right-to-left languages.
- Make sure your target app supports RTL text input.
- Dialectal Arabic (Egyptian, Gulf, etc.) works best when the specific dialect is selected.
Banglish (Pro)
Banglish lets you speak in Bangla using English phonetics and TalkWriter converts it to proper Bangla script. This feature requires a TalkWriter Pro or Enterprise plan. Upgrade now →
Example: You say "ami bhalo achi" and TalkWriter outputs "আমি ভালো আছি".
Frequently Asked Questions
Can I set a keyboard shortcut to switch languages? Currently, language switching is done through the Settings panel.
Does AI Polish work the same in all languages? AI Polish is most powerful in English. It works in many languages but quality varies. See Supported Languages for accuracy ratings.
I speak English with a non-English accent. Which language should I select? Select English (your preferred variant, such as en-US or en-GB). The speech engine handles accents well within the same language.
Can TalkWriter auto-detect my language? Auto-detection is available but manual selection provides better accuracy. Use manual selection whenever possible.
Was this helpful? Let us know at support@talkwriter.ai