I'll try again.
I've separated my language out from my code. These language variables are all present/available during execution regardless of whether they need to be or not. (Much like the language file in phpBB). This works great except when a string/sentence needs to have additional variables inserted into it. What if the following were inserted in a language file:
$lang = "There are $six $members on line at $somedomain."
$six, $members, $somedomain are not always defined so PHP spits out a undefined variable warining/notice. I could make language file entries for every non-variable word/phrase ($lang['there'] = 'there', $lang['members']='members' ... and so forth). But even if I did this sentence structure might not work in another language.
I hope this explains the problem.
Has anyone else encountered this problem, how did you solve it?