语篇层次的补偿既有外部又有内部补偿，同样涉及ICM和背景知识两方面。前文已经述及语篇外部补偿。语篇中有一些特征可通过激发读者的能动性来模拟会话参与。例如作者会预计读者在阅读过程中有时会遇到某些问题，于是试图在问题出现之前加以解决； 当作者认为读者希望对某一点附加一些解释或者使用权威证言时，会提供注释或参考书目。奈达认为加注的方式主要有两种：说明特定历史文化场合的注释，通常要和被说明的东西放在同页，而说明 一般性问题的注释，通常作为附录放在正文后。这种补偿有助于读者了解原作作者及作品、原语语言文化、译者和译作的有关信息，从而有助于对译作的认知解读。语篇内部补偿包括句间的换位补偿、融合补偿、分解补偿等，译者可以根据 补偿适度、相关、一致原则，灵活掌握补偿及其位置。内部补偿也包括在译文句子之间增加词语以加强句间衔接、语义连贯、行文逻辑，及在文内增加解释性或背景性句子甚至段落。后一种补偿常见于含独特文化信息的语篇翻译。语篇层次信息补偿应以译者对目标读者的ICM和背景知识预渕为基础，追求译文语篇的整体风格和效果。在此，我们从罗贯中《三国演义》第五回中选取一段，分析罗伯茨（M. Roberts)译文中下划线部分采用的补偿手段。

正议间，呂布复引兵搦战。八路诸侯齐出。公孙瓒挥槊亲战吕布。战不数合，瓒敗走。吕布纵赤兔马赶来。变马日行千里，飞走如风。看看赶上，布举画栽望瓒后心便刺。傍边一将，圓睁环眼，倒竖虎须，挺丈八蛇矛，飞马大叫：“三姓家奴休走！燕人张飞在此！”吕布见了，弃了公孙瓒，便战张飞。飞抖擞精神，酣战吕布。连斗五十余合，不分胜负。

                                                                              (罗贯中《三国演义》第五回）

While the council was in progress, again came Lu Bu to challenge them, and again the commanders moved out against him. This time Gongsun Zan, flourishing his spear, went to meet the enemy. After a very few bouts Gongsun Zan turned and fled. Lu Bu followed at the topmost speed of his Red Hare, who was a five-hundred-mile-a-day horse, swift as strong wind. The lords watched Red Hare gained rapidly upon the flying horseman, and Lu Bu's halberd was poised ready to strike Gongsun Zan just behind the heart. Just then dashed in a third rider with round glaring eyes and a bristling mustache, armed with a ten-foot serpent halberd. “Stay, twice bastard!” roared he, “I, Zhang Fei of Yan*. await you!” Seeing this opponent, Lu Bu left the pursuit of Gongsun Zan and engaged the new adversary. Zhang Fei was elated, and he rode forth with all his energies. They two, who were worthily matched, exchanged over fifty bouts with no advantage to either side.

* Yan was a state in the Warring States period. Located in the northeast, and north of Qi.

                                           (Chap. 5 of Romance of Three Kingdoms, trans. M. Roberts )