What this criterion requires
Where meaning depends on pronunciation and it is ambiguous in context, the pronunciation is available.
Who it helps
Screen reader users and readers of languages with ambiguous scripts.
Example: fails vs passes
Heteronyms or ambiguous names whose meaning depends on unspoken pronunciation.
A pronunciation note or audio next to the ambiguous term.
AAA, mostly relevant to specific languages and content types.
How to meet and fix it
- Provide pronunciation guides where ambiguity changes meaning
Common failures auditors find
- Ambiguous proper nouns with no guide, on an AAA claim
Automated scanning catches a share of these instantly - run a free check - and a manual audit covers the judgement calls a tool cannot make.
Sources
- W3C, Understanding 3.1.6: Pronunciation - w3.org/WAI
- W3C, How to Meet 3.1.6 (quick reference) - w3.org/WAI/quickref
Last updated . Reviewed by the EqualWeb accessibility team.
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