Linking to different language versions

overkill on every page?

[bill]

The company I work for is about to start a big shifting/redesign of their websites. One of the design standards they are considering is to have links to each different language version of our site on every page of the new sites.

Currently they are considering a link to the home page of each language version. Unfortunately the different language versions of the site are not mirror images of one another, so it is not very practical to try and link to the corresponding page on the different language sites.

Until now, only some of the different language sites have had links on all of their pages to the alternate language versions...Others only had links on their home pages.

Maintenance-wise, adding links to each language version's home page is the simplest. However, I'd be interested to hear your views on whether this is a viable linking method.

[heini]

>links to each different language version of our site on every page

I don't see how this should hurt your sites.
Another idea: How about creating a central starting page, from where users can choose their language? Here is an example [jupitermmxi.com].

This way only one link on ervery page would be needed, saying "our site in your language".

Just an idea.