If there is anyone out there who still doubts that America is a place where all things are possible; who still wonders if the dream of our founders is alive in our time; who still questions the power of our democracy, tonight is your answer.
假如还有人不相信美国是一个不存在不可能的地方，还有人怀疑开国之父们的梦想依然在影响着我们这个时代，还有人质疑美利坚民主的力量，那么，他们的疑惑在今夜得到了解答。
It's the answer told by lines that stretched around schools and churches in numbers this nation has never seen; by people who waited three hours and four hours, many for the very first time in their lives, because they believed that this time must be different; that their voice could be that difference.
在学校和教堂外面，人们排起了长长的队伍，人数之多在美国历史上前所未有。为了投上自己的一票，他们可以等待三个小时、四个小时。许多人是一生中第一次参加投票，因为他们坚信这一次必须有所变革，而他们的声音将举足轻重。
It's the answer spoken by young and old, rich and poor, Democrat and Republican, black, white, Latino, Asian, Native American, gay, straight, disabled and not disabled — Americans who sent a message to the world that we have never been a collection of red states and blue states; we are, and always will be, the United States of America.
所有的人，无论年轻人还是老年人，无论穷人还是富人，无论民主党人还是共和党人，无论黑人还是白人，无论拉美裔还是亚裔, 无论同性恋者还是异性恋者，无论残疾人还是健康人，他们向全世界发出了同一个信息：我们从来不属于共和党的“红州”或者民主党的“蓝州”，我们属于美利坚合众国，现在如此，永远如此！
It's the answer that led those who have been told for so long by so many to be cynical, and fearful, and doubtful of what we can achieve to put their hands on the arc of history and bend it once more toward the hope of a better day.
在如此漫长的时期内，曾经有如此众多的人们对我们说：对于我们的成功，我们应该淡漠，应该害怕，应该不相信。但是，历史之轮如今已在我们手中，历史之轮将又一次在我们手中驶向美好未来。
老夫评语：
唉，越往下看，这位译者的水平是越来越那个了。
此段整段意思远离了原文。实际上，整段意思，奥巴马还是围绕着“今晚的回答”来进行的。必须把这一层意思给说出来。原文开始就有“It's the answer that...”啊。怎么没有看到？可以是译着译着就忘了？
2、“led ... to be cynical, and fearful, and doubtful of...”这句是指那些被told的人们，对……变得很……。而译文则完全弄错了，变成“我们应……”。
3、“cynical”一词是很狡猾的词。很多专业英语学生都很不容易掌握此词。在英语中，有很多这样的词，有个根本含义，即根义。从英语中读意思已经达到。但翻译到汉语，也就是说，译文则要根据上下文来决定用什么样的词来表述。但无论如何，也没有“淡漠的”意思。这一点，请这位译者好好注意一下。它的根本含义是“认为人人都是自私的，所以不相信任何人”。
4、“the arc of history”。译成“历史之轮”，让人感到糊涂。从译文上看，不知道这个“历史之轮”到底是用在手上，还是用于脚下。根据汉语，既然是“轮”，应该与脚有关，因为译者后来使用了“驶向”一词。但译者却把它搬到了手上，可能是因为看到原文有“puts their hands”的缘故吧，成了“历史之轮如今已在我们手中”。矛盾得让我都受不了了。呵呵。实际上，这“the arc of history”原意为“历史的弧线”，而奥巴马则鼓励美国民众，要把这“历史的弧线”重新弯曲过来，并迫使它朝着更好的未来前行。因为奥巴马认为美国在八年共和党的领导下，前行的方向是个错误的方向。他要重新把方向摆正。这一比喻现在在美国的很多网站上都很火。也就是说，直接翻译就很不错。
It's been a long time coming, but tonight, because of what we did on this day, in this election, at this defining moment, change has come to America.
通往今夜的道路很漫长，但今夜终于来临。特殊的一天，特殊的一次大选，特殊的决定性时刻，美国迎来了变革。
2、 再说后半句：译者用了“特殊的”三个排比句子。但原文根本没有这层意思。奥巴马重点要强调的，不是“特殊的”，而是“change has come to America”“变革已经来临”。这也正是他竞选以来一直强调的主题。也就是说，译者自己又强加了很多不是重点的地方，是不是以为奥巴马是个黑人，就特殊了呢。我不得而知啊。
I just received a very gracious call from Sen. McCain. He fought long and hard in this campaign, and he's fought even longer and harder for the country he loves. He has endured sacrifices for America that most of us cannot begin to imagine, and we are better off for the service rendered by this brave and selfless leader. I congratulate him and Gov. Palin for all they have achieved, and I look forward to working with them to renew this nation's promise in the months ahead.
刚才，我接到了麦凯恩参议员一个非常大度的电话。在这次竞选中，他作出了持久而艰巨的努力。为了这个他热爱的国家，他作出的努力更持久、更艰巨。他为美利坚做出的牺牲，超出了我们绝大多数人的想象。他是一位勇敢无私的领袖，正因为有了象他这样的服务，我们才生活得更好。我对麦凯恩参议员以及佩林州长的成绩表示祝贺。同时，我也期待着在未来与他们一起为振兴国家而共同努力。
If there is anyone out there who still doubts that America is a place where all things are possible; who still wonders if the dream of our founders is alive in our time; who still questions the power of our democracy, tonight is your answer.
It's the answer told by lines that stretched around schools and churches in numbers this nation has never seen; by people who waited three hours and four hours, many for the very first time in their lives, because they believed that this time must be different; that their voice could be that difference.
It's the answer spoken by young and old, rich and poor, Democrat and Republican, black, white, Hispanic, Asian, Native American, gay, straight, disabled and not disabled - Americans who sent a message to the world that we have never been a collection of individuals or a collection of Red States and Blue States: we are, and always will be, the United States of America.
It's the answer that – that led those who’ve been told for so long by so many to be cynical, and fearful, and doubtful of what we can achieve to put their hands on the arc of history and bend it once more toward the hope of a better day. It's been a long time coming, but tonight, because of what we did on this day, in this election, at this defining moment, change has come to America.
A little bit earlier this evening, I received an extraordinarily gracious call from Senator McCain. He fought long and hard in this campaign, and he's fought even longer and harder for the country he loves. He has endured sacrifices for America that most of us cannot begin to imagine, and we are better off for the service rendered by this brave and selfless leader. I congratulate him, I congratulate Governor Palin for all they’ve achieved, and I look forward to working with them to renew this nation's promise in the months ahead.
