what're the language limitations on Android?

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Lykho

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#138210 25-Dec-2013 04:12

so, I see my phone can support plenty of languages, but the keyboard is limited to English (and German?)

I would assume that if you change the settings to another language the keyboard would change to reflect that language (otherwise wtf?!), so why doesn't choosing multiple 'input languages' allow you to input characters from those alphabets?

in the same vein, are there programs for reading texts written in other alphabets? I've tried Perfect Reader and Good Reader HD, but they can't display Lithuanian/Norwegian/Slovak/Polish characters properly, which seems so weird given that the phones obviously _can_ when you google things, so I don't know why the phone's own apps, or these others would have so much trouble.

it's so frustrating that I can hold on 's' for 'ß' but not for 'š'...how much harder would it really have been for them?!

is there any work-around if I want the phone to actually display everything in English as the default language?

Ragnor

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#957155 25-Dec-2013 05:01

What make/model of phone? What version of Android? What keyboard app are you using, default?

SwiftKey is a replacement keyboard that's really good and will probably have options to do want you want
https://play.google.com/store/apps/details?id=com.touchtype.swiftkey

Lykho

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#957301 25-Dec-2013 19:12

Ragnor: What make/model of phone? What version of Android? What keyboard app are you using, default?

SwiftKey is a replacement keyboard that's really good and will probably have options to do want you want
https://play.google.com/store/apps/details?id=com.touchtype.swiftkey

Samsung Ace 2.

it's on 4.1.2. I see on google about downgrading to Gingerbread for better performance, so I doubt I could upgrade to Kit-Kat or anything on this phone.

default keyboard. didn't even think it would be possible to use some other keyboard, unless it was just limited to whatever the app does (rather than messaging/everything where a keyboard comes up).

installed SwiftKey -- awesome! it lags pretty bad on my phone, but does everything I need it to do!

now I just need a reader or language pack for my phone so it can display documents properly (whether txt, rtf, doc, I don't care what format I have to make them).

timmmay

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#957341 25-Dec-2013 21:42

The latest google keyboard supports more languages, I think.

Try Swype, my preferred keyboard, there is a trial.

ScuL

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#960479 2-Jan-2014 23:55

I used AnySoftKeyboard on older Android versions but it hasn't been necessary since 4.2x

Note that if you have multiple languages on your phone in Android 4.x you can write text messages & other inputs with a maximum of 3 languages. I've set mine to English, Dutch & Swedish and when texting it suggests words from all 3 languages. Unfortunately you can't set it to more than 3 as I would have liked to add German & French as well.

Haere taka mua, taka muri; kaua e wha.