(The translator) is engaged in negotiating with the source text in order to determine its meaning, most of which is overt, although much is always covert. A translator must also negotiate with the language of the target audience in order to arrive at the closest natural equivalent. Such negotiating should not be regarded as merely seeking some dull compromise representing the lowest common denominator of agreement. Creative negotiating should aim at something new and fresh and a means of communicative pleasure. (Nida, 2001: 121)

译者是在与原文谈判与协商，以便确定其意义（意义虽大体上显而易见， 但也有相当部分并非一眼就能看出）。译者还得与目标语谈判与协商，以便取得最自然的对等。这种谈判与协商不应看作只是乏味的低层次的妥协一致。创造性的妥协应旨在获得新鲜的东西和一种交际快乐的手段。

奈达在此所称的creative negotiating就包含着译者运用自己的智慧，在翻译的过程中（即在整个“协商”、“谈判”等过程中）进行创造性的工作，达成一 个完满的结局。

翻译者的第三个角色为“斡旋者”（mediator)。作为中介的译者，其作用分为两种：一、在两种文化（包括意识形态、道德体系和社会政治结构）之间作中介，寻求“克服阻碍转换意义”的那些不兼容的东西。译者要有双语能力，还 要有两种文化的视野。二、译者是“有特权的读者”。

译者阅读是为了产出， 解码是为重新构码。换言之，译者使用常规的输出信息作为翻译过程的输人。 这个输人是阅读过程的终点。结果是，这个过程比一般读者就更彻底，更深思熟虑。翻译者肩负沟通、谈判与斡旋三重任务，不具备相当的素质与条件断难胜 任所承担的工作。从知识、能力、才华以及眼光等角度来看，一个真正称职的翻译究竟应当具备哪些基本条件呢？对此，不少学者，包括不少翻译家，都提 出过或列出过自己的系统看法。各种文著所阐述的对译者的要求实际大同小异。这其中比较经典，也比较精彩的阐述，当属奈达在四十多年前在其代表作Toward a Science of Translating 中归纳出的六条要求（Nida, 1964: 150-152)。

Basic Requirements for the Translator

1. The first and most obvious requirement of any translator is that he has a satisfactory knowledge of the source language. It is not enough that he be able to get the“general drift” of the meaning, or that he be adept in consulting dictionaries (this he will have to do even at best). Rather, he must understand not only the obvious content of the message, but also the subtleties of meaning, the significant emotive values of words, and the stylistic features which determine the“flavor and feel” of the message.