（二）确保信息完整准确

政治文献的翻译无疑要讲政治，在翻译过程中译者一定要在吃透原文确切含义的基础上选用最恰当的英文词语，或进行适当调整和变通，以确保原文信息能够完整、准确地表达出来，简单、机械、随意从字典里选取一个词或短语，仅从字面上对号入座肯定是不行的。

1. 权力不论大小，只要不受制约和监督，都可能被滥用。

【原译】Any power, more or less, can be misused if it is not subject to constraints and oversight.

译文里的more or less并没有反映权力的大小，而只能作为副词短语修饰动词misuse，意思是to some extent，那就完全偏离原文的意思。有的人可能会想到用big or small来表示，那也不恰当，如果用any power, big or small，那可以被理解是“任何国家，无论大小”。因此，对于这里的（权力）大小，我们不宜从字面上考虑。

【改译】Power is susceptible to abuse at all levels if it is not subject to constraints and oversight.

2. 中国将力争到2020年，基本形成适应创新驱动发展要求的制度环境和政策法律体系，为进入创新型国家行列提供有力保障。

【原译】By 2020 China aims to create an institution, a legal system and a set of policies to guarantee that it becomes one of the innovative countries in the world.

从字面上看，译文似乎包含了原文的所有要素，但如果稍加注意，就会发现有多处不确切。首先，create an institution的意思是“设立一个机构”，而原文是“形成……制度环境”。译文里谈的是建立一个具体的实体，而原文含义是形成一套体系，两者差别甚大。其次，从表面来看，becomes one of the innovative countries in the world相当于“进入创新型国家行列”，因为innovative countries似乎就是“创新型国家”。但是，两者在程度上是很不一样的，innovative countries普普通通，任何国家都可以有此称号，因为任何国家无论总体创新水平多么落后，都必然在某些方面具有创新性。而“创新型国家”虽然表面上没有以最高级显示，但真正含义却是：one of the world抯 most innovative countries。

【改译】China seeks to have in place by 2020 an institutional, legal and policy framework for innovation-driven development so as to provide a solid basis to put China on track to become one of the world抯 most innovative countries.

3. 2013年6月，中国国家主席习近平与美国总统奥巴马在安纳伯格庄园会晤，提出共同努力构建中美新型大国关系。关于中美新型大国关系的内涵，习主席在会晤中用三句话作了概括：一是不冲突、不对抗，二是相互尊重，三是合作共赢。不冲突对抗，是构建中美新型大国关系的必要前提。相互尊重，是构建中美新型大国关系的基本原则。合作共赢，是中美构建新型大国关系的必由之路。

【原译】In June 2013, Chinese President Xi Jinping held meetings with United States President Barack Obama at the Annenberg Retreat in California, where he put forth the proposal of constructing a new model of major power relations between the two countries. Xi summarized the connotations of the new relationship model in three phrases during the meetings: no conflict and no confrontation, mutual respect, and win-win cooperation. “No conflict and no confrontation” is a prerequisite of the new model of major power relations between the two countries; “mutual respect” is the basic principle for this new model; and “win-win cooperation” is the only way to turn this vision into a reality.

译文的第一个问题是“内涵”的所谓对应词connotations有误。这可能是一个普遍性的误解，许多人都把“内涵”译成connotations，许多正式文件的官方译文里也是这样译的。在不少人看来这是“铁定”的译法。但必须指出，这是错误的译法。所谓connotation是指the associated or secondary meaning of an expression，也就是“弦外之音”，而不是“内涵”。修改后的译文里没有以“内涵”的名词形式直译，而是以动词形式（boils down to）加以表示。在不少情况下，我们也可以用the essential meaning等来表示“内涵”。例如：

“企业家精神”成为人们挂在嘴边里的一个概念，也就是最近这十几年当中的事。“企业家精神”的内涵是对机会的抓取，对于创新的热情，以及对冒险的渴望。

【改译】 “Entrepreneurial spirit” has become a catchphrase only in the past ten or more years. Its essence manifests itself in a readiness to seize a chance, an enthusiasm for innovation, and an eagerness to take risks.

例3译文的第二个问题应该属于本文第二部分关于语言表达的问题，但因为出现在此处，也附带加以讨论。原文里先是谈到三点（不冲突、不对抗；相互尊重；合作共赢），紧接着对这三点分别加以解释。中文这种行文安排是可行的，因为中文不怕重复，但在译文里照搬原文结构，就会过分罗嗦重复，因此上策是将后面的分别解释与前面的三点合并处理，从而避免不必要的重复。

【改译】Meeting with President Barack Obama of the United States at the Annenberg Retreat in California in June 2013, President Xi Jinping of China proposed building a new model of major-country relations. This new model, in his words, boils down to three principles: (a) no conflict or confrontation, which is a prerequisite; (b) mutual respect, which provides the basis for healthy major-country relations; and (c) mutually beneficial cooperation, which provides the means to turn this vision into a reality.

4. 在学有所教、劳有所得、病有所医、老有所养、住有所居上持续取得新进展。

【原译】The CPC needs to make steady progress in ensuring that those wanting education can receive it, those needing jobs can find them, those requiring medical care can enjoy it, those looking for affordable housing can find it, and the old people cared for.

译者真的想译出其中的每一个字，结果这个译文的十分明确的言外之意（connotation）就是those who do not want education will not receive it; those who do not need jobs cannot find them; those who do not ask for medical care will not enjoy it; and those who are not looking for affordable housing will not have it. 中文原文实际上是借助中文表达的特点，把本来可以更简单的说法说得更加生动一些，但这种语言现象在中文里行得通，搬到英语里意思就大变样，就严重偏离原文要旨。而翻译最根本的任务是准确反映原文的真正含义，那就是：

【改译】Efforts should continue to improve access to education, employment, medical services, elderly care, and affordable housing.

5. 实行民主集中制，还要求“尊重多数，保护少数”，反对无政府主义的“大民主”，反对把个人意志凌驾于集体之上。

【原译】Democratic centralism also calls for respecting the majority while protecting the minority, opposes anarchic 揼reater democracy?and is against putting one抯 will above that of the collective.

“尊重多数，保护少数”的本意是指尊重多数人的意见，保护少数人的权利，在英语里只说respecting the majority while protecting the minority是不够全面的。另外，putting one抯 will above that of the collective 中的one抯指什么是不清楚的，the collective指什么也是不清楚的（可以指某个合作社）。因此， “把个人意志凌驾于集体之上”的含义没有得到确切反映。

【改译】Democratic centralism also calls for respecting the opinions of the majority while protecting minority rights. It rejects anarchic democracy on the one hand and any tendency to allow the will of any individual to override collective wisdom on the other.

6. 转变政府职能的核心要义，是要切实做好“放管”结合。“放”是放活，而不是放任；“管”要管好，而不是管死。

【原译】The key for transforming government functions is to strive for a proper balance between delegation and control. “To delegate” is to activate the market, not to let things run loose while “to control” means to exercise appropriate management, not to bring things to stagnation.

译文不准确的一处是 activate the market，那就意味着市场过去是没有投入使用的，activate是启用。另外，称政府要exercise appropriate management的说法也不确切。政府对经济活动的职能是regulation（监管），而不是management。Management是企业的事，是指the organization and coordination of the activities of a business，是具体的日常活动。此外，key for transforming则存在语法问题。

【改译】The key to transforming government functions is a right balance between delegation and the exercise of control. To delegate authorities is meant to inject more vitality into economic activities, rather than embracing an unqualified laissez-faire approach. To exercise control is to ensure that the market functions appropriately, rather than stifling the economy with regulatory overreach.

（三）确切表达成语典故在文献中的实际含义

翻译成语典故主要应考虑三点：一是尽量保留原有典故的形象及寓意，二是尽量确切体现典故在文章中的实际含义，三是尽量使典故的形象及寓意天衣无缝地融入文章论述之中。其中第二点最重要，是压倒一切的，离开这一点，别的就无从谈起。如遇译文实在难以保留典故中的形象，那就只能“忍痛割爱”，放弃典故，着力体现典故中实际想要传递的信息，着力完成第二点任务。不仅是时政翻译，而且在包括文学翻译在内的各类翻译工作中，都会碰到这种情况。有时，硬译典故形象不仅不能为译文增辉，使之更加生动，反而制造多余的噪音，喧宾夺主，严重影响实质信息的传递，结果得不偿失。总之，传递实质信息永远是第一位的。如何在译文里处理成语典故，需根据成语典故在文章中或在特定场合使用时的重要性而定。如果成语典故在文章中举足轻重，那么必须在译文里如实再现其形象及寓意。以下的例子均属这种情况：

1. “治大国如烹小鲜”

这个成语集体讨论时决定译成：Governing a large state is like cooking a small fish: it must be handled with great care.在单独出现的情况下，似有必要加上补充说明。如果仅仅用了like cooking a small fish，则成语的实质信息并不明确。“如烹小鲜”隐含有“丝毫不敢懈怠，丝毫不敢马虎”的意思，在中国文化里也许不需进一步解释，而译成英语后，like cooking a small fish没有与“谨慎”直接挂钩，补充解释还是必不可少的。不过，在特定上下文里，补充解释可以省略，如：“治大国若烹小鲜”一语出自中国古代思想家老子所著的《道德经》。意思是说治理大国，如同烹煮小鱼，关键在掌握好火候、调和好味道，而不可以不断翻搅。

The adage “governing a large state is like cooking a small fish” came from Daodejing by Laozi, an ancient Chinese thinker. Just as cooking a small fish requires careful heat control, right seasoning, and a minimal amount of stirring, so governing a large state is a delicate balancing act that must be performed with the highest level of care.

2. “大道至简”

集体讨论的译文是Great truths are always simple。这样翻译也是为了尽量体现典故的原汁原味。具体用法如下：

“大道至简”是中华传统道家哲学学说，道在中国哲学中，是一个重要的概念，表示“终极真理”。此一概念，不单为哲学流派诸子百家所重视，也被宗教流派道教等所使用。“大道至简”的基本含义是，大道理（基本原理、方法和规律）是极其简单的，简单到一两句话就能说明白。

“Great truths are always simple” is an important concept of Daoism and traditional Chinese philosophical thinking. “Great truths” are ultimate truths. This concept not only featured prominently in philosophical works across different traditions, but also was embraced by many religious thinkers. It means that fundamental principles, approaches and guiding rules are invariably straightforward and can be explained very concisely in simple words.

3. “打铁还需自身硬”

虽然这一成语的含义在英语里本来就有类似的说法，如A good example is the best sermon，但我们还是采用了体现中文成语原有形象的译法：It takes a good blacksmith to make good steel. 这是考虑到保留原有形象在英语里仍然是说得通的，成语的含义也仍然能得到传递。在这种情况下，我们不妨保留原有形象。不过，必要时也可用英语成语加以补充说明。例如：

“打铁还需自身硬”，是中国流传已久的通俗名句，意思就是要从自己做起，以身作则，言传身教，率先垂范。

“It takes a good blacksmith to make good steel” is a popular Chinese adage. It means that only by conducting yourself honorably can you expect others to do the same, or in other words, only a good example can serve as the best sermon.