String table for translatable application

[pnj]

I need my php application to run in a few languages.  I'm wondering if anyone can advise on design, or point to an implementation so I don't reinvent the wheel.

 

So there will be a config file that defines the language at the beginning of a user's session.

 

I'll have to replace every English language string in my application with an identifier.  Then there is a file somewhere that associates all those identifiers with strings in a given language.  The question is, what kind of file?

 

I'm thinking of using a set of files consisting entirely of define()s, associating identifiers with strings.

 

The application can then read the language file, and include() the appropriate definition file.

 

Bad idea?  Good idea?  Better ideas?

 

-pnj