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Writing language & Banglish on mobile

TalkWriter separates the language you speak from the language you write. Set them the same and you get a faithful transcription; set them differently and TalkWriter translates as you talk — speak in one language and watch clean text appear in another. Banglish is a special case: type or speak romanized Bangla and get proper Bangla script.

Available on: iOS 16+ (iPhone & iPad) and Android 10+

Quick checks​

Before you start, make sure:

  • The TalkWriter keyboard is set up — see iPhone setup or Android setup.
  • You're signed in and online. Transcription and translation run in the cloud.
  • You know your two languages: your spoken/input language (what you say) and your writing language (what you want typed).

Spoken vs writing language​

There are two settings:

  • Spoken / input language — the language you actually speak when dictating.
  • Writing language — the language TalkWriter writes into the text field.

When they match, TalkWriter transcribes what you say. When the writing language differs from your spoken language, TalkWriter translates in real time as you dictate. Translation only kicks in when the two are different — same‑to‑same is always a straight transcription.

You can set both in Settings, and change the writing language on the fly with the language chip in the keyboard top bar.

How to dictate in one language and write in another​

  1. Open the TalkWriter keyboard in any app.
  2. Tap the language chip in the top bar and set your writing language to the language you want on screen.
  3. Make sure your spoken/input language (in Settings) matches what you'll actually say.
  4. Tap the mic and speak. As you talk, the translated text appears in your writing language.
Translation only when languages differ

If your spoken and writing languages are the same, you'll get a transcription, not a translation — that's expected. To translate, the two must be different.

Banglish → Bangla script​

Banglish lets you write Bangla without a Bangla keyboard layout. Type or speak romanized Bangla (Bangla words written with English letters) and TalkWriter converts it to proper Bangla script.

  • During dictation, a Native / Roman chip appears in the top bar. Use it to choose whether your output stays in romanized form or converts to native script.
  • This is the fastest way to write Bangla on a phone if you think in romanized spelling.

Tips for accuracy​

  • Speak in full phrases. Translation and transcription are most accurate with complete thoughts rather than single words.
  • Set the spoken language correctly. If TalkWriter expects the wrong input language, results suffer — confirm it in Settings before a long dictation.
  • Add names to your Dictionary. Custom names and spellings carry across, so they're written the way you want.
  • Watch the language chip. A quick glance at the top bar confirms which writing language is active before you start.

FAQs​

Why is my text in the same language I spoke? Because your writing language matches your spoken language, so TalkWriter transcribes instead of translating. Tap the language chip and pick a different writing language to translate.

How do I turn translation off? Set your writing language to the same language you speak. With both the same, TalkWriter simply transcribes — no translation happens.

Which languages are supported? TalkWriter supports a wide range of spoken and writing languages. See the full list under Supported languages.

What's the difference between Banglish and translation? Translation converts meaning from one language to another. Banglish keeps the same Bangla words but converts them from romanized spelling into Bangla script — it's transliteration, not translation.

Does the writing language sync across my devices? Language settings are device‑local, so set your preferred languages on each device. Your account, dictionary, and snippets still sync everywhere.

Still stuck?​

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