code: private String format( Object[] arguments )
      {
          Locale l = Locale.getDefault();
          if ( locale != null )
          {
              String[] parts = locale.split( "_", 3 );
              if ( parts.length <= 1 )
              {
                  l = new Locale( locale );
              }
              else if ( parts.length == 2 )
              {
                  l = new Locale( parts[0], parts[1] );
              }
              else
              {
                  l = new Locale( parts[0], parts[1], parts[2] );
              }
          }
  
          return new MessageFormat( format, l ).format( arguments );
      }
docs: Formats the given argument using the configured format template and locale.
  
  @param arguments arguments to be formatted @ @return formatted result