# Screenreaders and Foreign Languages

Category: Geeks r Us

## Post 1 by Click_Clash (No Average Angel) on Thursday, 20-Sep-2012 19:25:35

Hey guys,
I'm taking a Japanese class this semester. As you can probably imagine, the books for this class were not able to be scanned by the adaptive tech lab because a lot of their content is in hiragana, katakana, and kanji. And even if I can get hold of an electronic copy of the books, the American version of JAWS won't read them. My Voc Rehab counselor isn't able to buy the Japanese version of JAWS for me, but she pointed me toward Realspeak, thinking that it might be of some use. Neither of us knew much about Realspeak, and even the Freedom Scientific reps that I talked to couldn't satisfactorily answer my questions. So I decided to bring my questions here: If I download Realspeak, will it act like the Japanese version of JAWS? That is, will it read Japanese writing and translate text that I type from Romaji into a given Japanese writing system? If not, what would be the best method for reading and writing Japanese on the computer?
Thanks,
Becky

## Post 2 by bee (Generic Zoner) on Thursday, 20-Sep-2012 20:55:30

Hi friend!
Regarding of freedomscientific japanese voice that will use with english jaws for windows.
Yes it's will work.
But you have to install the japanese language pack for your computer first.
And of course you have to change your localize in japanese as well.
For win xp I think you need Windows CD for it.
But for win 7 you can get it from windows update site.
Hope it's might help you some!
By the way if you still not clear regarding of it.
Kindly let's me know.
I will come here to check your post time to time.
Best!
Bee!

## Post 3 by Click_Clash (No Average Angel) on Thursday, 27-Sep-2012 20:14:38

Hi Bee,
I just read your response. Thank you for the info! My next question, then, is: If I install the Japanese language pack, will I be able to easily switch between an English and a Japanese setup, or will I have to choose one or the other? In other words, can I still use my computer in English when I'm not doing Japanese work?
Becky

## Post 4 by kool_turk (This site is so "educational") on Friday, 28-Sep-2012 1:01:12

Switching keyboard layout can easily be done with alt plus shift.
note that the keyboard layout will only effect the application you did that particular keystroke in.
I don't know if this will still work for Japanese, but that's the method I use If I have to write something in Turkish.

## Post 5 by Click_Clash (No Average Angel) on Tuesday, 16-Oct-2012 23:14:52

Hmmm... I imagine if I'm having to download a separate voice for my screenreader, as well as different language files for my computer, it might be a bit more complicated than switching the keyboard layout. At least I think so. Might just have to do my work orally with my sensei.

## Post 6 by synthesizer101 (I just keep on posting!) on Wednesday, 17-Oct-2012 0:23:37

Here is how I have done it, as long as you have an up-to-date version of JAWS(version 10 or higher).
1. Go to the help menu, choose web resources, and then real speak solo direct.
2. Navigate to Japanese, and install the kyoko voice.
3. Then go to control panel regional and language options. In the keyboard page, find the settings for east asian languages and enable them.
4. Set up a secondary keyboard for Japanese.
Result: Your computer is still in English, but by pressing alt+shift you can type in Japanese (assuming this works). By switching to the real speak solo direct voice Kyoko, your computer can speak in Japanese as well. I'm not sure what alphabets or symbol types are supported by real speak, as I don't speak Japanese (only mandarin). Still, this should work at least somewhat.

## Post 7 by synthesizer101 (I just keep on posting!) on Saturday, 17-Nov-2012 12:04:14

I have done some more research. It appears that you will be able to type kana and kanji with the Japanese keyboard, but you may need help learning them, as I did with the mandarin pinyin system. Feel free to post here or send me a private message for any assistance.

## Post 8 by tspivey (Generic Zoner) on Tuesday, 27-Nov-2012 1:41:38

If jaws can't do it, NVDA can. You can install JTalk for the synth and a japanese keyboard layout.
I can't remember if the JAWS realspeak driver needs you to change the system locale or not; in any case, you don't have to change your OS language, just possibly the locale.
I'll also try to help if you pm; I have most of this stuff working since I play japanese audiogames that need it.

## Post 9 by synthesizer101 (I just keep on posting!) on Tuesday, 27-Nov-2012 18:18:02

No, JAWS does not require a locale change. The difference between your situation and mine with mandarin is that you are not required to type Japanese (or any other language for that matter). JAWS can do it, and if that's what your used to, go for it. Also, realSpeak is much better than open JTalk in quality and articulation. Unless something occurs to prevent JAWS with free realSpeak or vocalizer support not to work, use what your used to. I, for example, now use NVDA for all input (and am overjoyed about new Chinese support). Therefore, I still argue for it. But if you already have a free Japanese synthesizer better than the free one, use that.