Moodle Multi-language content filter
Displaying text in multiple languages
The multi-language content filter enables resources to be created in multiple languages. When turned on, it looks for <span lang=”xx” class=”multilang”> tags which indicate that a text contains multiple languages. Then it selects and outputs the text in the user’s language (as set in their browser or in their preferences).
Enabling the multi-language content filter
An admin can enable the multi-language content filter as follows:
- Go to Site administration > Plugins > Filters > Manage filters and in the dropdown menu for multi-language content select ‘On’.
- If headings are to be shown in multiple languages too, select ‘Content and headings’ in the ‘Apply to’ column. Note that this may affect site performance.
How to use in a course
To use this feature first create your content in multiple languages (in the same resource). Then enclose each language block (aka multilang block) in the following tags:
<span lang="XX" class="multilang">your_content_here</span>
<span lang="YY" class="multilang">your_content_in_other_language_here</span>
It is essential to be in the code editing mode (press [<>] in the HTML editor), when you enter these tags for them to work. Only spaces, tabs and enters can be used between the individual languages in the multilang block.
Note: If your site uses a child language pack (see Language packs for the list), then the first span tag must be the parent language. Otherwise, when a user using the child language views the text, it will not be in the correct language for them (as reported in MDL-55197). For example, if your site uses en_us then the en span tag (as parent language) must be first i.e.
<span lang="en" class="multilang">your_content_in English</span> <span lang="de" class="multilang">your_content_in_German_here</span>
How to use for assignment submission agreements
- With the filter enabled, go to Site administration > Plugins > Activity modules > Assignment > Assignment settings.
- In the submission statement, add (for example)
<span lang="en" class="multilang">This assignment is my own work, except where I have acknowledged the use of the works of other people.</span> <span lang="fr" class="multilang">Ce devoir est le fruit de mon travail personnel, sauf aux endroits où l'utilisation d'oeuvre d'autres auteurs est clairement indiquée.</span>
How it works internally
- Filter first looks for multilang blocks in the text
- For each multilang block:
- If there are texts in the currently active language, print them
- Else, if there exists texts in the current parent language, print them
- Else, print the first language found in the text
- Text outside of multilang blocks will be shown always