If you just need to add a string after the menu title, you can use the following code.
function mytheme_menu_link(array $variables) {
$element = $variables['element'];
$sub_menu = '';
if ($element['#below']) {
$sub_menu = drupal_render($element['#below']);
}
$output = l($element['#title'] . ' ' . t('the string you need to add'), $element['#href'], $element['#localized_options']);
return '<li' . drupal_attributes($element['#attributes']) . '>' . $output . $sub_menu . "</li>\n";
}
The alternative would be using the following code, which would give to who translate the string more context to translate it.
function mytheme_menu_link(array $variables) {
$element = $variables['element'];
$sub_menu = '';
if ($element['#below']) {
$sub_menu = drupal_render($element['#below']);
}
$output = l(t('!title the string you need to add', array('!title' => $element['#title'])), $element['#href'], $element['#localized_options']);
return '<li' . drupal_attributes($element['#attributes']) . '>' . $output . $sub_menu . "</li>\n";
}
You could also implement a preprocess function to alter the title.
function mytheme_preprocess_menu_link(array $variables) {
$variables['element']['#title'] = t('!title the string you need to add', array('!title' => $variables['element']['#title']));
}