The Rails I18n library transforms a YAML file into a data structure that is accessible via a dotted path call using the t() function.
t(\'one.two.three.four\
I would suggest taking a look at this gist: https://gist.github.com/potatosalad/760726
It adds implode and explode methods to Hash object that transforms nested keys to single-level dotted path keys, and vice versa.
implode
explode
Hash