Index: includes/common.inc
===================================================================
RCS file: /cvs/drupal/drupal/includes/common.inc,v
retrieving revision 1.624
diff -u -F^f -r1.624 common.inc
--- includes/common.inc	27 Mar 2007 05:13:53 -0000	1.624
+++ includes/common.inc	28 Mar 2007 20:57:33 -0000
@@ -697,7 +697,21 @@ function fix_gpc_magic() {
  */
 function t($string, $args = 0) {
   global $language;
-  if (function_exists('locale') && $language->language != 'en') {
+  static $custom_texts;
+
+  // First, check for an array of custom texts.
+  // If present, use the array *instead of* database lookups. 
+  // This is a high performance way to provide a handful of string replacements.
+  // See end of settings.php.
+  // Cache the $custom_texts variable to improve performance.
+  if (!isset($custom_texts)) {
+  	$custom_texts = variable_get('custom_texts', array());
+  }
+  // Custom texts are only available for English
+  if ($language->language == 'en' && isset($custom_texts[$string])) {
+  	$string = $custom_texts[$string];
+  }
+  elseif (function_exists('locale') && $language->language != 'en') {
     $string = locale($string);
   }
   if (!$args) {
Index: sites/default/settings.php
===================================================================
RCS file: /cvs/drupal/drupal/sites/default/settings.php,v
retrieving revision 1.54
diff -u -F^f -r1.54 settings.php
--- sites/default/settings.php	28 Mar 2007 14:08:22 -0000	1.54
+++ sites/default/settings.php	28 Mar 2007 20:53:45 -0000
@@ -176,3 +176,17 @@
 #   'anonymous' => 'Visitor',
 # );
 
+/**
+ * String overrides:
+ *
+ * To override specific strings on your site, add an entry in this list.
+ * You may need this functionality if you want to change your site's English
+ * interface strings.
+ *
+ * Remove the leading hash signs to enable.
+ */
+# $custom_texts = array(
+#   'forum'      => 'Discussion board',
+#   '@count min' => '@count minutes',
+# );
+# $conf['custom_texts'] = $custom_texts;