# New: Notetaker transcription language hints

Source: https://developer.nylas.com/docs/changelogs/2026-04-30-notetaker-language-hints/

Notetaker now accepts optional language hints when transcribing meetings. Use them when your users consistently speak one or more languages and Notetaker's automatic language detection has been mis-identifying them — for example, Portuguese being transcribed as Spanish, or a single-language meeting bouncing between detected codes. Setting `expected_languages` either narrows what the auto-detector picks between (when you pass multiple codes) or forces a single language (when you pass one). Transcripts also now include a `language` field with the detected code, so downstream pipelines can branch on it without re-running detection.

This is a language *declaration* feature, not translation. Notetaker doesn't translate transcripts or force code switching — the hints just constrain the candidate set so the recognizer doesn't have to guess across every supported language.

## Added

- **`meeting_settings.transcription_settings`** — Optional object with `expected_languages` (required when the object is non-empty; an array of one or more [supported language codes](/docs/v3/notetaker/#supported-language-codes)) and `fallback_language` (optional; either `auto` or one of the codes already in `expected_languages`). To **force a single language**, pass one code in `expected_languages`. To **narrow auto-detect**, pass two or more. When `fallback_language` is omitted, Notetaker picks one from `expected_languages` based on detection confidence. `transcription` must be `true` for the hints to take effect.

- **Available wherever `meeting_settings` is accepted** — Set on individual Notetakers ([`POST`](/docs/reference/api/notetaker/invite-notetaker/) / [`PATCH`](/docs/reference/api/notetaker/update-notetaker/), grant-based or [standalone](/docs/reference/api/standalone-notetaker/invite-standalone-notetaker/)), on calendars (so all matching events inherit the setting), or on individual events (which override anything inherited from the calendar). Send `transcription_settings: null` or `{}` to clear inherited hints and return to default automatic language detection.

- **`language` field on transcripts** — Notetaker's transcript JSON now includes a top-level `language` field with the [code](/docs/v3/notetaker/#supported-language-codes) of the language the recognizer detected. The field appears on both `speaker_labelled` and `raw` transcripts. See [Handling Notetaker media files](/docs/v3/notetaker/media-handling/#transcript-format) for sample payloads.

- **[Set transcription languages guide](/docs/v3/notetaker/#set-transcription-languages)** — Full coverage of expected vs. fallback semantics, how clearing inherited hints works, and the complete list of supported codes.