# File lib/gettext/po_entry.rb, line 231
        def escape(string)
          return "" if string.nil?

          string.gsub(/([\\"\t\n])/) do
            special_character = $1
            case special_character
            when "\t"
              "\\t"
            when "\n"
              "\\n"
            else
              "\\#{special_character}"
            end
          end
        end