Creating Accessible Language Textbooks: Challenges and Solutions for Publishers
Written by
Monika Zarczuk-Engelsma
Posted on
Sep 17, 2025
Category
Accessibility
Not many years ago, it was impossible for me to imagine that I, a blind person, would be able to use foreign language textbooks just like everyone else. Today, however, a computer or a phone enables me to access everything I need: in one book, called an ebook, I can practice vocabulary, learn spelling, check pronunciation and analyse grammar. And if there’s still something I don’t understand, I can open a website or use an electronic dictionary and find the answer within minutes. The revolution that has taken place within the last few years is truly amazing and has transformed learning foreign languages into an exciting experience which can be available to me too, if a file is prepared correctly.
In the era of globalisation and digitalisation publishing multilingual ebooks becomes more and more common. Starting from language textbooks, through fiction with passages in its original language, to scientific publications containing citations in various languages – the possibilities are almost endless. However, publishers who wish to create content accessible for everyone, including blind and visually impaired individuals, face unique challenges. Is it possible for screen readers and refreshable braille displays to work with different languages and alphabets? How to transfer the nuances of pronunciation when the text is only seen? This article aims to dispel these doubts and show possible solutions.
Multilinguality and Screen Readers and Refreshable Braille Displays: Technical Matters
The main challenge concerning multilingual ebooks’ accessibility is that screen readers (like NVDA or JAWS) and refreshable braille displays need to recognise and read the text correctly. Most of these tools recognise the language of a document automatically. However, if a text contains parts in other languages, a reader might try to read them in the default language, which results in an incomprehensible “babble”.
Solution: it is vital to correctly mark the language of each part of the text. In formats like EPUB xml:lang or lang attributes are usually used. For example, a part in French should look like this:
HTML
This way, a compatible screen reader will automatically switch to the speech synthesiser corresponding with a given language, thus ensuring correct pronunciation. It is the same for refreshable braille displays – when a language is marked correctly, it is possible to use the rules of braille of this language, which is of vital importance given different punctuation, abbreviations and, maybe most of all, special characters in different alphabets.
Different Alphabets and Writing Systems
The next aspect is the diversity of alphabets and writing systems. It is easy to forget that not all languages use the Latin alphabet. Texts in languages like Arabic (written from right to left), Chinese (complex ideographic characters) or Russian (Cyrillic) pose a special challenge.
Solution: you should make sure that the fonts used in a given ebook work with all characters needed of a language. In formats like EPUB 3 there is support for different alphabets and text directions (e.g. RTL for Arabic).
The process of conversion and validation of an ebook needs to include all these nuances, testing the display and reading of its text in all target languages.
How to Convey the Pronunciation of a Word to a Blind Person?
In the case of language textbooks, where correct pronunciation is key, it might not be enough when the text is read by a speech synthesiser. How to convey the subtleties of intonation, accent or specific sounds which don’t have any counterpart in one’s first language?
Solution
Phonetic transcription: in addition to the original spelling it’s good to add a phonetic transcription of words, e.g. using the international phonetic alphabet (IPA). Not every user of a screen reader knows IPA, but it is a universal pronunciation transcription.
Example:
English: Hello /həˈloʊ/
French: Bonjour /bɔ̃ˈʒuʁ/
Audio recordings: the best solution is to include audio recordings with the correct pronunciation. This can be done in a number of ways:
Embedded audio files: in the EPUB 3 format, it is possible to embed audio files directly in an ebook. The user will then be able to click on a word or phrase in order to hear its pronunciation,
Links to audio files: You can also include links to external audio files, although this is less comfortable for the user.
It’s especially important in books, where often only single words in a different language are included, e.g. in a novel which contains an expression in a foreign language. An audio recording eliminates the problem of wrong interpretation by a speech synthesiser and makes it possible to capture the intonation. What is more, this will make an ebook more attractive for any other user too, as they will no longer have to guess how a phrase or word should be pronounced.
Metadata: The Key to Correct Language Identification
The last but very important step is the correct preparation of an ebook’s metadata. It’s metadata that informs screen readers, library management systems and reading programmes about the language or languages used in a publication.
Problem: if an English language textbook is to be used by Poles and all the main text is in English but with Polish instructions, metadata must include both the information about English as the dominant language and about the presence of the Polish language.
Solution:
Main language: in an ebook’s metadata (e.g. in an package.opf file in the EPUB format) indicate the dominant language of the publication, for an English language text book: en.
Additional languages: if an ebook contains important fragments in other languages, you should mention it in the metadata, using the correct markers (e.g. dc:language) for each language. Not all reading systems use this information but it is a good practice and makes it more likely for more advanced readers to correctly recognise languages.
Example (EPUB opf):
XML
Information in the description: Additionally, in an ebook’s description (which is available at ebook stores or in library catalogues) it should be clearly stated that a publication (or most of it) is in a foreign language. E.g.: “A beginner’s English language textbook in English with Polish explanations”. This allows users to consciously choose whether they want to buy a book or not. A good and precise description of a book is of use to everyone.
Conclusion
Although creating accessible multilingual ebooks is a challenge, it is not impossible. First of all, you should be aware of what blind and visually impaired people need and consequently implement good practices in the editing process. Remember to mark different languages, provide support for different alphabets, the possibilities of presenting pronunciation in audio form and precise metadata – this way publishers are able to create publications which will really be accessible for everyone and thus open the world of knowledge and technology with no language or technological barriers.
I, as a blind person, dream of e.g. rare languages textbooks where I would not only read about grammar and listen to pronunciation but also do exercises and tests, take notes, add correct endings to nouns and do everything my sighted friends have been doing since primary school in paper textbooks and what is still difficult to access for me even though I use a speaking phone or computer. Additionally, although many language-learning apps and online tests exist, almost none of them are fully accessible. Therefore, an interactive ebook would be a real treat.
Bibliography:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=MCaMRyl6svQ
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=kUJvR2gVASE
The article was created in close collaboration between the Polish Foundation for the Blind and Visually Impaired "Trakt” and Have a Book.
Translated by Aleksandra Kallas