TextToSpeech setLanguage not working?

Question

I am setting my TextToSpeech to use a particular language (English - UK), using the locale "en_GB". But it always uses my devices default language. Is there no way to set it programmatically? I have downloaded the files required for the language and when I change my TTS's default language to 'English - UK' it works but when the default is different the programmatic approach does not work. I have scoured the web to my best but am unable to resolve this issue.

    String ttsEngine = "com.google.android.tts";
    txt2Speech = new TextToSpeech(this, this, ttsEngine);
    //Locale ttsLocale = new Locale("eng", "GBR");
    txt2Speech.setLanguage(new Locale("en_GB"));

Tried several methods, but none are working. Can I not set my TTS's language programmatically?

Thank You

EDIT: In response to 'A Honey Bustard'

Other Code:

public class MainActivity extends AppCompatActivity implements TextToSpeech.OnInitListener

My onInit()

public void onInit(int status) {
    // TODO Auto-generated method stub

}

Also I'm calling .setLanguage() in my onCreate() , as soon as my TextToSpeech is initialized. Is that correct? Also I'm only calling it once. It is not required to call it every time right? Also I'm testing on a GS7

Answer 1

Try the second Constructor from Locale that takes two Strings like this :

    txt2Speech.setLanguage(new Locale("en", "GB"));

EDIT :

Yes it is usually ok to do instantiate it in onCreate, and it usually only needs and should be done once.

All I can do is show you my working code, I am setting the default language after instantiating in onCreate() :

    textToSpeech = new TextToSpeech(getApplicationContext(), this);

    textToSpeech.setLanguage(Locale.getDefault());

In my app there are buttons in which you can change the language, which trigger this code (case British English) :

  textToSpeech.setLanguage(new Locale("en", "GB"));

Maybe it is not available somehow , there are some checks you can validate if the language and country is available. You might find your error there.

 if (textToSpeech.isLanguageAvailable(new Locale("en", "GB")) == TextToSpeech.LANG_COUNTRY_AVAILABLE
   && textToSpeech.isLanguageAvailable(new Locale("en", "GB")) == TextToSpeech.LANG_AVAILABLE) 

should return true.

Answer 2

You need to set the language once the Text to Speech Engine has initialised correctly.

public void onInit(int status) {

    switch (status) {

        case SUCCESS:
        // Set the language here
        break;
        case ERROR:
         // Something went wrong. You can't set the language
        break;
    }
}

That should do it.