University sites generally identify each page's language as English.
This means screen readers will pronounce all text on the page as if it was written in English. For non-English text, the result is unintelligible gibberish.
If you are authoring content inside of a page that is a language other than English you will have to identify the language of that section or quote. Most content management systems provide a button for this; highlight the relevant content, click the button, and select the correct language from the list:
Don't do This
Unidentified language
<p>Mi profesora de español esta embarazada.</p>
Pronounced/interpreted:
Am I professor Ade? A spaniel is too embarrassed. Uhh...
Do This
Identified language
<p lang="es">Mi profesora de español esta embarazada.</p>
Pronounced:
Mi profesora de español esta embarazada
Actually means:
My Spanish professor is pregnant.
Testing for Accessibility
To test
Use the WAVE tool to scan the page. It will mark any text assigned a language tag with a globe icon. Click the icon for further information:
