[eluser]PhilTem[/eluser]
Well, I guess it's not working properly since you're extending a wrong class
Code:
class MY_Form_validation extends CI_Form_validation
See the Form_validation is just a capitalized F not V.
Then $this-> should work as well for the language line.
Regarding the %s in the error fields, look at [url=http://php.net/manual/en/function.sprintf.php]sprintf[/php]