Success Criterion 3.1.2
Conformance level AA

Foreign-Language Quote or Phrase With No Language Attribute

3.1.2 — Language of Parts

Scenario

Setting

A fashion e-commerce site's checkout page

What’s wrong

Foreign-language quotes, phrases, or embedded content without lang on the containing element.

Example

<p class="checkout-note">
  Your order ships with our signature packaging, a nod to French
  savoir-faire: "l'elegance est dans le detail."
</p>

Why it matters

The French quote gets read with English pronunciation rules, so the closing line meant to feel elegant instead comes out as garbled noise right as a shopper is about to pay.

How to test

Find a foreign-language quote or embedded phrase in the content: check DevTools for a lang attribute on its wrapping element — missing fails.

How to fix

Wrap the foreign-language span specifically, not the whole paragraph, so only that phrase switches pronunciation.

<p class="checkout-note">
  Your order ships with our signature packaging, a nod to French
  savoir-faire: <span lang="fr">"l'elegance est dans le detail."</span>
</p>

Outcome

A shopper hears the French phrase spoken smoothly instead of stumbled through, right before completing their purchase.

Who is affected

Screen reader users hear brand phrases like this constantly across a shopping session, and unmarked foreign snippets compound into a confusing checkout experience.

Learn more

Understanding Understanding document (opens in a new tab)