I have this same problem in Ubuntu 12.04. When I installed 12.04 back in April 2012 it worked fine (as it has for the last several releases stretching back to 2006 when I first started installing multiple languages), but I re-installed 12.04 this past week and had this come up. I am trying to install the Korean, German and Spanish packs.
I tried sudo apt-get install -f. I tried sudo apt-get update && sudo apt-get dist-upgrade. I tried sudo dpkg --configure -a. I tried sudo dpkg-reconfigure locales. I looked in Synaptic under "status" and there are no broken packages or thorny issues. I tried installing each language separately instead of grouping them together. A thorough google/duckduckgo/ubuntu forums/launchpad search reveals that what I wrote above are the only offered solutions and none of them have worked for me. I wasn't sure if I had to file a new bug since the OP did his for 10.10 and my bug is in 12.04. If I need to file a new bug because of the different release, please let me know. ** Attachment added: "screenshot of the offending action" https://bugs.launchpad.net/ubuntu/+source/language-selector/+bug/632011/+attachment/3406920/+files/Screenshot%20from%202012-10-21%2015%3A24%3A17.png -- You received this bug notification because you are a member of Desktop Packages, which is subscribed to language-selector in Ubuntu. https://bugs.launchpad.net/bugs/632011 Title: gnome-language-selector won't install language support Status in “language-selector” package in Ubuntu: New Bug description: Binary package hint: language-selector I tried to install support for Chinese (simplified and traditional) input methods and extra fonts. When I clicked "Apply Changes", it popped a dialog titled "Software database is broken", saying "It is impossible to install or remove any software. Please use the package manager "Synaptic" or run "sudo apt-get install -f" in a terminal to fix this issue at first". I've been using this method for installing pinyin input since Ubuntu 9.10, and it worked until now. ProblemType: Bug DistroRelease: Ubuntu 10.10 Package: language-selector 0.6.3 ProcVersionSignature: Ubuntu 2.6.35-19.28-generic 2.6.35.3 Uname: Linux 2.6.35-19-generic x86_64 NonfreeKernelModules: nvidia wl Architecture: amd64 Date: Mon Sep 6 18:16:52 2010 InstallationMedia: Ubuntu 10.10 "Maverick Meerkat" - Alpha amd64 (20100906) PackageArchitecture: all ProcEnviron: LANG=en_US.UTF-8 SHELL=/bin/bash SourcePackage: language-selector To manage notifications about this bug go to: https://bugs.launchpad.net/ubuntu/+source/language-selector/+bug/632011/+subscriptions -- Mailing list: https://launchpad.net/~desktop-packages Post to : desktop-packages@lists.launchpad.net Unsubscribe : https://launchpad.net/~desktop-packages More help : https://help.launchpad.net/ListHelp