The DETECTLANGUAGE function in Google Sheets is an invaluable tool designed to automatically identify the language of a given text. This function is particularly useful in a global environment where data may come from diverse linguistic backgrounds, allowing users to manage and analyze multi-language datasets efficiently.

Syntax

DETECTLANGUAGE(text)

text: The text string or cell reference for which the language detection is to be performed.

Example #1

=DETECTLANGUAGE("Hola, ¿cómo estás?")

This function call checks the language of the text “Hola, ¿cómo estás?” and would return “es” for Spanish.

Example #2

=DETECTLANGUAGE(A1)

Assuming cell A1 contains the text “Bonjour tout le monde”, this function would detect the language as “fr” for French.

Example #3

=DETECTLANGUAGE("Hello, how are you?")

This function checks the text “Hello, how are you?” and would return “en” indicating English as the detected language.

Error handling

• N/A: Occurs when the input text cannot be identified as a valid language.
• VALUE: Indicates that the input provided is not of the expected text format or is empty.
• ERROR: This error arises from an internal issue or an unsupported text format.

Conclusion

In summary, the DETECTLANGUAGE function is an essential asset for any user dealing with multilingual data in Google Sheets. By effectively identifying the language of the text inputs, it streamlines data analysis and enhances comprehension across diverse linguistic backgrounds.