If there is no translation for page, how to display language selector

Question

I have a site in two different languages, let's say English and Swedish. There's a language selector in the top right corner which displays these languages and allows you to switch between these.

However, some pages only have a version in one language. What should happen to the language selector in this case?

1. Hide the language selector if there is no translation
2. Show the language selector in a disabled state
3. Show the language selector, but if the user clicks it, they will be redirected to the front page (which is translated)
4. Show the language selector, but if the user clicks it, traverse up the site tree structure and redirect the user to the first translated page

Answer 1

I would go with the second option with a slight modification

Modification

When User hovers over this disabled button, a popover can be displayed which tells the user that this page is only available with one language

Answer 2

Of your four alternatives, #3 and #4 would be excessively confusing; don't do them. #1 and #2 are both acceptable, but I would tend toward a modification of #2:

Show the language selector, but in a way such that it's clear that there isn't a translation available for a specific language. For example:

• If you normally use flag icons, replace the flag for unavailable translations with the same flag enclosed by the red circle-with-slash. Optionally, if the user points the mouse to the circle-with-slashed-flag, have a tool tip/popup that says "translation unavailable" in the appropriate language

• If you normally use a text drop-menu, or a text link on the page, with the name of the language in the respective language, change the name of the unavailable language(s) to that language's phrase translating as "No «language-name» translation". If you normally use links, make sure that there's no link on the "No translation" text. If you have links with phrases like "Read this page in English", do the same.

• If you normally use a link with the two-character language code, I would retain the code, but style it as struck-out, and no link on the code. Again, optionally, if the user points to the language code, a tool tip/popup saying "translation unavailable" in the indicated language can be included.

Answer 3

Don't display the page at all, meaning you should treat the two languages as two completely separate websites, if for example there is no "about" section in the english version then you simply don't display the about section on that website.

Users will expect EVERYTHING in their desired language after they hit the language-icon, they will be really frustrated and also confused if they get thrown around between two languages only because the site is not able to provide the proper content.

A site should only be published in multiple languages if the translations are done.