A method and apparatus for receiving strokes of electronic ink in more than one language is provided. An input device is used to enter at least one stroke of electronic ink into a processing device. The processing device stores a language indication associated with the electronic ink, such that the language indication provides a way to associate a handwriting recognizer with the ink. The user may change the language or recognizer associated with the ink by flipping over a pen and using another tip of the pen or may use another pen or other input device. Aspects of the described system and method accommodate various optional interfaces to associate a pen tip or click of a button to one or more languages. Other aspects of the system and method include language switching of a displayed software keyboard when a pen input device is within a predetermined distance from a display.