How strict should the application of "2.5.3: Label in Name" be for languages other than English?

[PiotrekKrakowiak]

We have an interesting translation scenario here.

A button in English saying "View all" with the area-label saying "View all conversations" - this is 100% ok according to [2.5.3]

When translated into Italian it becomes:

Botton: "Visualizza altro" area-label: "Visualizza altre conversazioni".

Notice how the 'o' on the button turns into an 'e' in the accessible label. This is totally normal in Italian - since "conversations" are plural feminine, we need to change the ending of the adjective to have a grammatically correct sentence.

However now the [2.5.3] is not met anymore. We do not have "exactly" the same text.

The meaning however is exactly the same.

The question now - should it be applied so strictly? Or would we consider other grammatical forms of the same words as also allowed?

If we apply it strictly, we would probably need to have some repetition in the label: "Visualizza altro : Visualizza altre conversazioni". Now we are correct - but then there is a lot of repetition and the screen reader will take so much more time....

The problem does not happen only in Italian, but basically in every language that uses grammatical genders of the nouns (which English does not).

Looking forward to some opinions of accessibility (and language) experts :-). Thanks!

[patrickhlauke]

However now the [2.5.3] is not met anymore. We do not have "exactly" the same text.

The meaning however is exactly the same.

Even if the meaning is the same, this won't help the use case this tries to address, which is a user with voice access/recognition trying to focus/trigger that particular control by saying out loud what they see the name as.

[patrickhlauke]

also ... any reason why the short/visible version of the control couldn't just be "Visualizza altre" ?

[PiotrekKrakowiak]

Thanks Patrick for your comment - your use case is very valid - I am going to discuss it with my team, thanks!

As for the other question: my understanding (I am not an Italian speaker) is that if you do not add a noun, you need to use "Visualizza altro".

"Visualizza altre" would be grammatically incorrect, if I understand correctly.

[patrickhlauke]

if you do not add a noun, you need to use "Visualizza altro".

Interesting. I do speak Italian (though I'm a bit rusty), and have to admit I've not heard of this grammatical rule.

Also, taking a step back: it's likely also fine to simply not use an expanded aria-label for the control. If it's clear enough from context for a non-screen-reader user what the button's purpose is, then it's sufficient for screen-reader users too without having to hold them by the hand.

[PiotrekKrakowiak]

I asked Copilot and it confirms :-)

[PiotrekKrakowiak]

Actually in this case the same phrase is used many times on the page to to "Show more...." (conversations / links / items / people, etc). So a user seeing the page will contextually understand more of what they are requesting. But a visually impaired user will not - and will need the explanation (conversations / links / items / people, etc) in the label.

Hope it makes sense :-)