Can dictation be used offline from a Mac Air? in Mojave? in Catalina?

Can dictation be used offline from a Mac Air? in Mojave? in Catalina?

For those of us that use dictation frequently (and sometimes in remote locations)... I have not figured out how to have dictation work in Word (which uses Apple Dictate) when off-line in Catalina.

Dictation is working (on and off-line in Mojave) but I recently tried a new Air with Catalina and could not get the Dictation to work offline.

Currently, this is preventing me from upgrading. Any ideas? Have I missed something?

Su