The default human language of each web page can be programmatically determined.
ADA Relevance: Level A is the minimum baseline. Failing this criterion is a clear ADA violation and one of the easiest violations for plaintiff attorneys to identify.
Screen readers use the language attribute to determine pronunciation. Without it, content may be read with the wrong language rules.
Check that the <html> element has a lang attribute with the correct language code (e.g., lang="en" for English).
Add the lang attribute to your HTML element: <html lang="en">. Use the correct ISO 639-1 language code for your content's primary language.
These industries commonly fail WCAG 3.1.1 due to the nature of their website content and functionality:
Different platforms have different levels of built-in support for WCAG 3.1.1:
WCAG 3.1.1 requires that the default human language of each web page can be programmatically determined. This is a Level A criterion under the Understandable principle, meaning it is a minimum baseline requirement.
Check that the <html> element has a lang attribute with the correct language code (e.g., lang="en" for English).
Yes. WCAG 3.1.1 is a Level A criterion, and courts consistently reference WCAG 2.1 AA as the standard for ADA compliance. Failing to meet this criterion creates legal exposure for ADA lawsuits, which typically settle for $10,000 to $75,000+.
Failing WCAG 3.1.1 Language of Page means screen readers use the language attribute to determine pronunciation. Without it, content may be read with the wrong language rules. This violation is detectable by automated scanning tools that ADA plaintiff attorneys use to identify lawsuit targets. ADA CodeFix can scan your site for this specific violation and provide AI-generated code fixes.
ADA CodeFix automatically scans for Language of Page violations and provides AI-generated code fixes — not overlay widgets.
Scan Your Site FreeLevel AA
Level A
Level A
Level AA