Nested php includes get commented out -

i've written simple function switch languages on site.

domainname.com/minis/ regular blog

domainname.com/minis-eng/ english version

here's switcher, works alright:

<?php echo '<a href="'; if (strpos(basename(getcwd()),'eng') !== false)     {         $subject = basename(getcwd());         $search = '-eng';         $trimmed = str_replace($search, '', $subject);         echo '/', $trimmed, '/' , basename($_server['php_self']), '">polski</a>';     } else     {echo '/', basename(getcwd()), '-eng/', basename($_server['php_self']), '">english</a>';} ?> 

now when place in external php , include in main index.php- works alright too. however, i'm using couple of external .php files place repeated elements. index.php looks more or less this:

• include head.php
• include body.php (this contains navigation menu)
• main content
• include footer.php

now i'd love place langswitcher.php in root directory, , place in body.php:

<?php define('root', dirname(__file__)); include (dirname(root). '/langswitcher.php'); ?> 

however, apparently php including code in included .php doesn't parsed- in final result part written , commented out.

is there can make "included include" parsed?

thanks in advance , let me know if wasn't clear anywhere.