diff --git a/__init__.py b/__init__.py
index b937a09..fec995d 100644
--- a/__init__.py
+++ b/__init__.py
@@ -591,11 +591,11 @@ def handle_change_media_properties(self, message: Message):
 
         if old_media:
             self.speak_dialog("media_type_changed",
-                              {"old": translate(old_media),
-                               "new": translate(new_media)})
+                              {"old": translate(old_media, lang=self.lang),
+                               "new": translate(new_media, lang=self.lang)})
         else:
             self.speak_dialog("media_type_set",
-                              {"new": translate(new_media)})
+                              {"new": translate(new_media, lang=self.lang)})
 
     # Query Alerts
     @intent_handler(IntentBuilder("ListAlerts").require("query")
@@ -828,7 +828,7 @@ def handle_create_todo(self, message: Message, alert: Optional[Alert] = None):
             return
         if not alert:
             alert = Alert.create(
-                alert_name=name, alert_type=AlertType.TODO, dav_type=DAVType.VTODO
+                alert_name=name, alert_type=AlertType.TODO, dav_type=DAVType.VTODO, lang=self.lang
             )
         if self.alert_manager.dav_active:
             self.specify_dav_attributes(alert,
@@ -873,6 +873,7 @@ def handle_add_subitem_to_todo(self, message: Message):
                 dav_calendar=todo.calendar,
                 dav_service=todo.service,
                 context=dict(related_to=todo.ident),
+                lang=self.lang
             )
             self.alert_manager.add_alert(alert)
         self.speak_dialog(
@@ -1157,9 +1158,9 @@ def confirm_alert(self, alert: Alert, message: Message,
                 alert.expiration,
                 self.lang)
         elif len(alert.repeat_days) == 7:
-            repeat_interval = translate("day", self.lang)
+            repeat_interval = translate("day", lang=self.lang)
         elif alert.repeat_days == WEEKDAYS:
-            repeat_interval = translate("weekday", self.lang)
+            repeat_interval = translate("weekday", lang=self.lang)
         else:
             repeat_interval = join_word_list([spoken_weekday(day, self.lang)
                                          for day in alert.repeat_days],
diff --git a/test/test_skill.py b/test/test_skill.py
index 7db9a95..0056b2f 100644
--- a/test/test_skill.py
+++ b/test/test_skill.py
@@ -43,7 +43,7 @@
 from ovos_utils.messagebus import FakeBus
 from ovos_workshop.skills import OVOSSkill
 
-from ovos_config.locale import load_language, get_default_tz
+from ovos_config.locale import get_default_tz
 
 from ovos_skill_alerts import AlertSkill
 from ovos_skill_alerts.util import AlertPriority, AlertState, AlertType, DAVType, Weekdays, EVERYDAY
@@ -130,9 +130,6 @@ def setUpClass(cls) -> None:
         cls.skill.alert_manager.get_dav_calendar = Mock(return_value=FakeCalendar())
         cls.skill.alert_manager.get_dav_calendars = Mock(return_value=[FakeCalendar()])
 
-        # Setup alerts
-        load_language("en-us")
-
         uuid_subitem1 = str(uuid4())
         uuid_subitem2 = str(uuid4())
         uuid_parent = str(uuid4())
@@ -3672,7 +3669,6 @@ def _validate_alert_default_params(reminder: Alert):
 
 @unittest.skip('Work in progress')
 class TestUIModels(unittest.TestCase):
-    load_language("en")
 
     def test_build_timer_data(self):
         from ovos_skill_alerts.util.ui_models import build_timer_data
diff --git a/util/alert.py b/util/alert.py
index 6416586..198f2ef 100644
--- a/util/alert.py
+++ b/util/alert.py
@@ -683,6 +683,7 @@ def create(
         dav_calendar: str = None,
         dav_service: str = None,
         context: dict = None,
+        lang: str = None
     ):
         """
         Object representing an arbitrary alert
@@ -768,6 +769,7 @@ def create(
             "dav_service": dav_service,
             "dav_synchron": False,
         })
+        data["lang"] = lang or get_default_lang()
         return Alert(data)
 
 
diff --git a/util/locale.py b/util/locale.py
index 5c9fffd..cdd3418 100644
--- a/util/locale.py
+++ b/util/locale.py
@@ -5,7 +5,8 @@
 from typing import Optional, List, Union, Tuple
 
 from ovos_bus_client.message import Message
-from ovos_config.locale import get_default_lang, load_language
+from ovos_bus_client.util import get_message_lang
+from ovos_config.locale import get_default_lang
 from ovos_date_parser import (
     nice_duration,
     nice_time,
@@ -70,8 +71,7 @@ def translate(word, lang=None):
     raise FileNotFoundError
 
 
-def spoken_alert_type(alert_type: AlertType,
-                      lang: str = None) -> str:
+def spoken_alert_type(alert_type: AlertType, lang: str = None) -> str:
     """
     Get a translated string for the specified alert_type
     :param alert_type: AlertType to be spoken
@@ -140,6 +140,7 @@ def spoken_duration(alert_time: Union[dt.timedelta, dt.datetime],
     :param lang: Language to format response in
     :return: speakable duration string
     """
+    lang = lang or get_default_lang()
     if isinstance(alert_time, dt.datetime):
         anchor_time = anchor_time or \
                       dt.datetime.now(alert_time.tzinfo).replace(microsecond=0)
@@ -161,24 +162,24 @@ def spoken_duration(alert_time: Union[dt.timedelta, dt.datetime],
     else:
         _seconds = remaining_time.total_seconds()
 
-    return nice_duration(int(_seconds), lang=lang or get_default_lang())
+    return nice_duration(int(_seconds), lang=lang)
 
 
-def get_abbreviation(wd: Weekdays) -> str:
+def get_abbreviation(wd: Weekdays, lang = None) -> str:
     if wd == Weekdays.MON:
-        return translate("abbreviation_monday")
+        return translate("abbreviation_monday", lang=lang)
     elif wd == Weekdays.TUE:
-        return translate("abbreviation_tuesday")
+        return translate("abbreviation_tuesday", lang=lang)
     elif wd == Weekdays.WED:
-        return translate("abbreviation_wednesday")
+        return translate("abbreviation_wednesday", lang=lang)
     elif wd == Weekdays.THU:
-        return translate("abbreviation_thursday")
+        return translate("abbreviation_thursday", lang=lang)
     elif wd == Weekdays.FRI:
-        return translate("abbreviation_friday")
+        return translate("abbreviation_friday", lang=lang)
     elif wd == Weekdays.SAT:
-        return translate("abbreviation_saturday")
+        return translate("abbreviation_saturday", lang=lang)
     elif wd == Weekdays.SUN:
-        return translate("abbreviation_sunday")
+        return translate("abbreviation_sunday", lang=lang)
 
 
 def get_alert_type_from_intent(message: Message) \
@@ -188,7 +189,7 @@ def get_alert_type_from_intent(message: Message) \
     :param message: Message associated with intent match
     :returns: tuple of AlertType requested and spoken_type 
     """
-    lang = message.data.get("lang")
+    lang = get_message_lang(message)
     if message.data.get("alarm") or message.data.get("wake"):
         return AlertType.ALARM, translate("alarm", lang)
     elif message.data.get('timer'):
diff --git a/util/parse_utils.py b/util/parse_utils.py
index 0b6edc3..c332176 100644
--- a/util/parse_utils.py
+++ b/util/parse_utils.py
@@ -32,8 +32,8 @@
 from uuid import uuid4
 
 from dateutil.relativedelta import relativedelta
-from ovos_bus_client import Message
-from ovos_config.locale import get_default_lang, load_language, get_default_tz
+from ovos_bus_client.message import Message, dig_for_message
+from ovos_config.locale import get_default_lang, get_default_tz
 from ovos_date_parser import nice_time, nice_day, extract_datetime, extract_duration
 from ovos_number_parser import extract_number
 from ovos_skill_alerts.util import AlertPriority, Weekdays, AlertType, DAVType, LOCAL_USER
@@ -49,6 +49,7 @@
 from ovos_utils.log import LOG
 from ovos_utterance_normalizer import UtteranceNormalizerPlugin
 from rapidfuzz import fuzz
+from ovos_bus_client.util import get_message_lang
 
 
 class Tokens(list):
@@ -62,7 +63,7 @@ def __init__(self, chunks: list, message: Message = None):
 
     @property
     def lang(self):
-        return self.message.data.get("lang") or get_default_lang()
+        return get_message_lang(self.message)
 
     def unmatched(self, original=False):
         if original:
@@ -82,7 +83,7 @@ def strip_time(self):
             return
 
         time_data = []
-        lang = self.message.data.get("lang") or get_default_lang()
+        lang = get_message_lang(self.message)
         for i, token in enumerate(self):
             if self.is_matched(token):
                 continue
@@ -119,7 +120,7 @@ def tokenize_utterance(message: Message) -> Tokens:
     :returns: list of utterance tokens where a tag defines a token
     """
     utterance: str = message.data.get("utterance", "").lower()
-    lang = message.data.get("lang") or get_default_lang()
+    lang = get_message_lang(message)
     if utterance is None:
         return Tokens([], message)
 
@@ -180,7 +181,6 @@ def get_default_alert_name(alert_time: Union[dt.date, dt.datetime, dt.timedelta]
         isinstance(alert_time, dt.datetime) else get_default_tz()
     now_time = now_time or dt.datetime.now(tz=timezone)
     lang = lang or get_default_lang()
-    load_language(lang)
     if alert_type == AlertType.TIMER:
         time_str = spoken_duration(alert_time, now_time, lang)
     # TODO ordinalize (LF)
@@ -201,7 +201,7 @@ def has_default_name(alert: Alert, lang: str = None) -> bool:
     :param lang: language to format response in
     :return: True if alert_name is the default name for the alert
     """
-    lang = lang or get_default_lang()
+    lang = lang or alert.lang
     expiration = alert.expiration.date() if alert.is_all_day else alert.expiration
     default_name = get_default_alert_name(expiration,
                                           alert.alert_type,
@@ -218,7 +218,7 @@ def build_alert_from_intent(message: Message) -> Optional[Alert]:
     :param timezone: Timezone for user associated with request
     :returns: Alert extracted from utterance or None if missing required params
     """
-    lang = message.data.get("lang") or get_default_lang()
+    lang = get_message_lang(message)
     LOG.debug(f"{lang}, {type(lang)}")
 
     data = dict()
@@ -275,7 +275,7 @@ def build_alert_from_intent(message: Message) -> Optional[Alert]:
     data["alert_type"] = alert_type
     if alert_type == AlertType.TODO:
         data["dav_type"] = DAVType.VTODO
-
+    data["lang"] = lang
     return Alert.create(**data)
 
 
@@ -290,8 +290,7 @@ def parse_repeat_from_message(message: Message,
     :returns: list of parsed repeat Weekdays or timedelta between occurrences
     """
     repeat_days = list()
-    lang = message.data.get("lang") or get_default_lang()
-    load_language(lang)
+    lang = get_message_lang(message)
     if message.data.get("everyday"):
         repeat_days = [Weekdays(i) for i in range(0, 7)]
     elif message.data.get("weekends"):
@@ -363,8 +362,7 @@ def parse_end_condition_from_message(message: Message,
     :param timezone: timezone of request, defaults to mycroft location
     :returns: extracted datetime of end condition, else None
     """
-    lang = message.data.get("lang") or get_default_lang()
-    load_language(lang)
+    lang = get_message_lang(message)
 
     tokens = tokens or tokenize_utterance(message)
     timezone = timezone or get_default_tz()
@@ -412,8 +410,7 @@ def parse_alert_time_from_message(message: Message,
     :param anchor_time: The base datetime the utterance is relative to
     :returns: Parsed datetime for the alert or None if no time is extracted
     """
-    lang = message.data.get("lang") or get_default_lang()
-    load_language(lang)
+    lang = get_message_lang(message)
 
     timezone = timezone or get_default_tz()
     tokens = tokens or tokenize_utterance(message)
@@ -496,7 +493,7 @@ def parse_alert_priority_from_message(message: Message,
     :param tokens: optional tokens parsed from message by `tokenize_utterances`
     """
     tokens = tokens or tokenize_utterance(message)
-    lang = message.data.get("lang") or get_default_lang()
+    lang = get_message_lang(message)
 
     priority = AlertPriority.AVERAGE.value
     if message.data.get("priority"):
@@ -512,12 +509,9 @@ def parse_alert_name_from_message(message: Message,
     Try to parse an alert name from unparsed tokens
     :param message: Message associated with the request
     :param tokens: optional tokens parsed from message by `tokenize_utterances`
-    :param strip_datetimes: if True, ignore any passed tokens containing times
-    :param articles: list of words to strip from a candidate alert name
     :returns: Best guess at a name extracted from tokens
     """
-    lang = message.data.get("lang") or get_default_lang()
-    load_language(lang)
+    lang = get_message_lang(message)
 
     tokens = tokens or tokenize_utterance(message)
     tokens.strip_time()
@@ -571,7 +565,7 @@ def parse_alert_context_from_message(message: Message) -> dict:
         "destination": message.context.get("destination") or "audio",
         # "session": message.context.get("session") or dict(),
         "user": message.context.get("user") or LOCAL_USER,
-        "lang": message.data.get("lang") or get_default_lang(),
+        "lang": get_message_lang(message),
         "ident": message.context.get("ident") or str(uuid4()),
         "origin_ident": message.context.get('ident'),
         "created": message.context.get("timing",
@@ -582,11 +576,10 @@ def parse_alert_context_from_message(message: Message) -> dict:
 
 # TODO: no need for timezone in the signature
 def extract_dt_or_duration(
-        text: str,
+        text: str, lang: str,
         anchor_time: dt.datetime = None,
         timezone: dt.tzinfo = None,
-        add: bool = True,
-        lang=None
+        add: bool = True
 ) -> Union[dt.datetime, dt.timedelta, None]:
     """
     Helper to extract either a duration or datetime
@@ -620,18 +613,17 @@ def parse_relative_time_from_message(message: Message,
                                      tokens: Optional[Tokens] = None,
                                      timezone: Optional[dt.tzinfo] = None,
                                      anchor_time: Optional[dt.datetime] = None):
-    lang = message.data.get("lang") or get_default_lang()
+    lang = get_message_lang(message)
     earlier = "earlier" in message.data
-    load_language(lang)
 
     timezone = timezone or get_default_tz()
     tokens = tokens or tokenize_utterance(message)
 
     for token in tokens.unmatched():
-        time_, remainder = extract_dt_or_duration(token,
+        time_, remainder = extract_dt_or_duration(token, lang,
                                                   anchor_time,
                                                   timezone,
-                                                  not earlier, lang=lang)
+                                                  not earlier)
         if time_:
             tokens[tokens.index(token)] = remainder
             return time_
@@ -664,22 +656,24 @@ def parse_timeframe_from_message(message: Message,
     return begin, end
 
 
-def validate_dt_or_delta(response: str, lang: str = None) -> Union[dt.datetime, dt.timedelta, str]:
+def validate_dt_or_delta(response: str) -> Union[dt.datetime, dt.timedelta, str]:
     """
     Validates if the sentence contains a datetime or duration
     """
-    lang = lang or get_default_lang()
+    message = dig_for_message()  # used inside get_response
+    lang = get_message_lang(message) if message else get_default_lang()
     if voc_match(response, "no", lang):
         return "no"
     else:
         return extract_dt_or_duration(response, lang=lang)[0]
 
 
-def validate_dt(response: str, lang: str = None) -> Union[dt.datetime, str]:
+def validate_dt(response: str) -> Union[dt.datetime, str]:
     """
     Validates if the sentence contains a datetime
     """
-    lang = lang or get_default_lang()
+    message = dig_for_message()  # used inside get_response
+    lang = get_message_lang(message) if message else get_default_lang()
     if voc_match(response, "no", lang):
         return "no"
     else:
@@ -687,8 +681,9 @@ def validate_dt(response: str, lang: str = None) -> Union[dt.datetime, str]:
         return dt_ if dt_ is None else dt_[0]
 
 
-def validate_number(response: str, lang: str = None) -> int:
-    lang = lang or get_default_lang()
+def validate_number(response: str) -> int:
+    message = dig_for_message()  # used inside get_response
+    lang = get_message_lang(message) if message else get_default_lang()
     num = extract_number(response, lang=lang)
     if num:
         return int(num)
diff --git a/util/ui_models.py b/util/ui_models.py
index 21dc489..2a7e17b 100644
--- a/util/ui_models.py
+++ b/util/ui_models.py
@@ -102,7 +102,7 @@ def build_alarm_data(alert: Alert) -> dict:
     if alert.has_repeat:
         alarm_repeat_str = create_repeat_str(alert)
     else:
-        alarm_repeat_str = translate("once").title()
+        alarm_repeat_str = translate("once", lang=alert.lang).title()
 
     return {
         "alarmTime": alarm_time,
@@ -130,8 +130,8 @@ def get_sequences(d):
     if alert.repeat_days:
         sequences = get_sequences(list(alert.repeat_days))
         for i, sequence in enumerate(sequences):
-            first = get_abbreviation(min(sequence))
-            last = get_abbreviation(max(sequence))
+            first = get_abbreviation(min(sequence), lang=alert.lang)
+            last = get_abbreviation(max(sequence), lang=alert.lang)
             if len(sequence) > 2:                
                 sequences[i] = f"{first}-{last}"
             elif len(sequence) == 2:
@@ -146,6 +146,6 @@ def get_sequences(d):
     if alert.until:
         if repeat_str:
             repeat_str += "|"    
-        repeat_str += f"{translate('until')} {datetime_display(alert.until.date(), lang=alert.lang)}"
+        repeat_str += f"{translate('until', lang=alert.lang)} {datetime_display(alert.until.date(), lang=alert.lang)}"
             
     return repeat_str