XML Translation

[nickreserved]

I load with AJAX this XML (apps.xml) which is translated (//menu/@name and app/@name) in english:

Every menu or app element has a big depth of hierarchy but here I omit it.

<?xml version="1.0" encoding="UTF-8"?>

<menu name="Main Menu" path="">
	<menu name="Menu #1" path="classification">
		<app name="Application #1" path="vehicle" />
		<app name="Application #2" path="bridge" need="vehicle" />
	</menu>
	<menu name="Menu #2" path="demolitions" />
	<menu name="Menu #3" path="minefield" />
	<menu name="Menu #4" path="river_cross_op" />
</menu>

I want to translate this XML to many languages with these permissions:
- Only these elements must be translated //menu/@name and //app/@name
- Do not clone XML and translate it. It isn't a big waste of size, but I don't want to make a change to all XMLs
- Translations must be in separated files. Not all translations in the same file.

Any directions? I can change the whole structure of XML, if you want. No limits.

My thoughts:

- Convert all XMLs to PHPs and use gettext like this:
<menu name="<?=_('Menu #2')?>" path="demolitions" />
- instead of loading e.g. apps.xml load translator.php?apps.xml (use very tricky code to translate with gettext, elements //menu/@name and //app/@name)
- Use apps.xml with apps.french.xml included and change elements //menu/@name and //app/@name with translator.xsl.
apps.french.xml here:

<?xml version="1.0" encoding="UTF-8"?>

<translations>
<translation name="Main Menu in french" path="">
<translation name="Menu #1 in french" path="classification">
<translation name="Application #1 in french" path="vehicle" />
<translation name="Application #2 in french" path="bridge" />
<translation name="Menu #2 in french" path="demolitions" />
<translation name="Menu #3 in french" path="minefield" />
<translation name="Menu #4 in french" path="river_cross_op" />
</translations>

What do you say?

Thanks for your time and brain-scratching.