I would not be standing here tonight without the unyielding support of my best friend for the last 16 years, the rock of our family and the love of my life, our nation's next first lady, Michelle Obama. Sasha and Malia, I love you both so much, and you have earned the new puppy that's coming with us to the White House. And while she's no longer with us, I know my grandmother is watching, along with the family that made me who I am. I miss them tonight, and know that my debt to them is beyond measure.
我要感谢下一位第一夫人米歇尔•奥巴马。她是我家的中流砥柱，是我生命中的最爱。没有她在过去16年来的坚定支持，我就不可能今晚站在这里。我要感谢萨沙和玛丽雅，我太爱你们两个了，你们将有一条新的小狗，它将与我们一起入住白宫。我还要感谢已去世的外婆，我知道此刻她正在天上看着我。她与其它亲人一起造就了今天的我。今夜我思念他们，我知道他们对我的恩情比山高，比海深。
unyielding：不是“坚定的”意思。而是“Not bending; inflexible. ”或“Not giving way to pressure or persuasion”的意思，即“不向压力低头的”，“不屈不挠的” 。“坚定”翻译得不透彻。
To my campaign manager, David Plouffe; my chief strategist, David Axelrod; and the best campaign team ever assembled in the history of politics — you made this happen, and I am forever grateful for what you've sacrificed to get it done.But above all, I will never forget who this victory truly belongs to — it belongs to you.
我要感谢我的竞选经理大卫•普鲁夫，感谢首席策划师大卫•阿克塞罗德以及整个竞选团队，他们是政治史上最优秀的竞选团队。你们成就了今夜，我永远感谢你们为今夜所作出的牺牲。但最重要的是，我将永远不会忘记这场胜利真正归功于谁---是你们！
I was never the likeliest candidate for this office. We didn't start with much money or many endorsements. Our campaign was not hatched in the halls of Washington — it began in the backyards of Des Moines and the living rooms of Concord and the front porches of Charleston.
我曾经是最没有可能的候选人。起初，我们的资金不多，赞助人也不多。我们的竞选并非始于华盛顿的华丽大厅，而是起于德莫奈地区某家的后院、康科德地区的某家客厅、查尔斯顿地区的某家前廊。
It was built by working men and women who dug into what little savings they had to give $5 and $10 and $20 to this cause. It grew strength from the young people who rejected the myth of their generation's apathy; who left their homes and their families for jobs that offered little pay and less sleep; from the not-so-young people who braved the bitter cold and scorching heat to knock on the doors of perfect strangers; from the millions of Americans who volunteered and organized, and proved that more than two centuries later, a government of the people, by the people and for the people has not perished from this earth. This is your victory.
这些劳动大众从自己的微薄积蓄中掏出5美元、10美元、20美元，拿来捐助我们的事业。现在的年轻人曾被认为是冷漠的一代，但正是这些年轻人壮大了我们的声势。他们离开自己的家庭和亲人，拿着很少的报酬，起早摸黑地助选。上了年纪的人也顶着严寒酷暑，敲开陌生人的家门助选。无数的美国人自愿地组织起来，证明了在两百多年以后，民有、民治、民享的政府并未从地球上消失。这是你们的胜利。
2、“捐助我们的事业”，又是译者自己在胡乱地多加汉字，原文是“It was built by…”，也就是指“竞选活动”，而不是什么“我们的事业”。然后，演讲高手又继续深入地说，“It grew strength”，也是与“it was built by…”是同一个意思。同一种意思，不使用同一个词，这是演讲上的最大的讲究。也是一种递进式的进一步加强语气的最常见说法。结果呢，看汉语，突然说了句“现在的年轻人曾被认为……”。
3、the myth of their generation’s apathy：译成“冷漠的一代”，又过于简单了。因为，这里是指“这一代人对政治不感兴趣”，而不是“冷漠的一代”。
I know you didn't do this just to win an election, and I know you didn't do it for me. You did it because you understand the enormity of the task that lies ahead. For even as we celebrate tonight, we know the challenges that tomorrow will bring are the greatest of our lifetime — two wars, a planet in peril, the worst financial crisis in a century. Even as we stand here tonight, we know there are brave Americans waking up in the deserts of Iraq and the mountains of Afghanistan to risk their lives for us. There are mothers and fathers who will lie awake after their children fall asleep and wonder how they'll make the mortgage, or pay their doctor's bills, or save enough for college. There is new energy to harness and new jobs to be created; new schools to build and threats to meet and alliances to repair.
我知道你们这样做并不只是为了赢得一场大选，更不是为了我个人。你们这样做，是因为你们明白未来的任务有多么艰巨。今晚我们在欢庆，明天我们就将面对一生之中最为严峻的挑战－－两场战争、一个充满危险的星球，还有百年一遇的金融危机。今晚我们站在这里庆祝，但我们知道在伊拉克的沙漠里，在阿富汗的群山中，那些勇敢的美国人正在那里。为了我们，他们醒来后面对的是一个有生命危险的世界。这些士兵的父母会在孩子熟睡后仍难以入眠，他们担忧的是如何偿还月供，如何支付医药费，如何存够今后孩子的大学费用。我们需要开发新能源，创造新的就业机会；修建新的学校；我们还要迎接挑战和威胁，并修复与盟国的关系。
老夫评语：
1、“For even as…, we know…”这个关联词是必须要翻译出来的，因为它是整个这个演讲中，很重要的一个转折。奥巴马从这时开始要评述目前的经济困境了。也就是说，该必须翻的，结果还给漏掉了。另外，奥巴马还是很喜欢排比句，他还要继续以“even as…”深入地表明自己的态度。奥巴马看到人们的热烈欢呼的场面，但他知道，美国人民还必须面对更严峻的经济形势。所以，他说，即便我们今晚在这里庆祝胜利，但我们知道接下来的日子并不好过。
2、把“the worst financial crisis in a century”译成“百年一遇”也过于随性。说“百年一遇”，在汉语里有“唯一一次的”意味。事实上，1929年就已经有过一次。所以，还是最好不要这样译，还是直接翻译原文就更对味了：“一个世纪里最糟糕的金融危机”。
The road ahead will be long. Our climb will be steep. We may not get there in one year, or even one term, but America — I have never been more hopeful than I am tonight that we will get there. I promise you: We as a people will get there.
前方的道路还很漫长，任务很艰巨。一年之内，甚至一届任期之内，我们可能都无法完成这些任务。但我从未像今晚这样对美国满怀希望，我相信我们会实现这个目标。我向你们承诺－－我们美利坚民族将实现这一目标！
老夫评语：
1、“our climb will be steep.”多好的语言啊，怎么被翻译成“任务很艰巨”这么没有一点原文滋味的话呢？奥巴马喜欢使用很多很生动形象的比喻。作为一个译者，不是在没有的地方多加些话，就是在应该原滋原味地翻译的地方，胡乱地套上一点也不尊重原文的汉语，这已经不是翻译。原文的意思是，“我们要攀爬的地方还十分陡峭”。因此，他继续说，“我们也许在一年后，甚至一届总统任内，都不会抵达那里。但美国人民啊，我从来没有像今晚这样充满着憧憬，那就是，我们一定会抵达那里。我向你们承诺：我们美国人民一定要抵达那里！”这么富有煽动性的话语，让新东方译本这么一译，成了白菜汤了，都。
2、 关于“We as a people…”，任何对美国宪法有一点了解的人，都明白，奥巴马是在这里
婉转地使用了美国宪法最开始一句话的头三个字：“We the people”。而这位译者，却翻译成了“我们美利坚民族”，听上去更像有种族主义者的意味。
____________________
老夫译文：
I would not be standing here tonight without the unyielding support of my best friend for the last 16 years, the rock of our family and the love of my life, our nation's next first lady, Michelle Obama. Sasha and Malia, I love you both so much, and you have earned the new puppy that's coming with us to the White House. And while she's no longer with us, I know my grandmother is watching, along with the family that made me who I am. I miss them tonight, and know that my debt to them is beyond measure.
It was built by working men and women who dug into what little savings they had to give $5 and $10 and $20 to this cause. It grew strength from the young people who rejected the myth of their generation's apathy; who left their homes and their families for jobs that offered little pay and less sleep; from the not-so-young people who braved the bitter cold and scorching heat to knock on the doors of perfect strangers; from the millions of Americans who volunteered and organized, and proved that more than two centuries later, a government of the people, by the people and for the people has not perished from this earth. This is your victory.
I know you didn't do this just to win an election, and I know you didn't do it for me. You did it because you understand the enormity of the task that lies ahead. For even as we celebrate tonight, we know the challenges that tomorrow will bring are the greatest of our lifetime — two wars, a planet in peril, the worst financial crisis in a century. Even as we stand here tonight, we know there are brave Americans waking up in the deserts of Iraq and the mountains of Afghanistan to risk their lives for us. There are mothers and fathers who will lie awake after their children fall asleep and wonder how they'll make the mortgage, or pay their doctor's bills, or save enough for college. There is new energy to harness and new jobs to be created; new schools to build and threats to meet and alliances to repair.
There will be setbacks and false starts. There are many who won't agree with every decision or policy I make as president, and we know that government can't solve every problem. But I will always be honest with you about the challenges we face. I will listen to you, especially when we disagree. And, above all, I will ask you join in the work of remaking this nation the only way it's been done in America for 221 years — block by block, brick by brick, callused hand by callused hand.
我们会遇到挫折，会出师不利，会有许多人不认同我得某一项决定或政策。我们知道政府并不能解决所有问题，我会向你们坦陈我们所面临的困难。我会聆听你们的意见，尤其是在我们意见不同的时候。最重要的是，我会请求你们一起参与重建这个国家。用自己的双手，从一砖一瓦做起，这是美国立国221年以来的前进方式，也是惟一的方式。
What began 21 months ago in the depths of winter must not end on this autumn night. This victory alone is not the change we seek — it is only the chance for us to make that change. And that cannot happen if we go back to the way things were. It cannot happen without you.
21个月前那个隆冬所开始的一切绝不应在今天这个秋夜结束。我们所寻求的变革并不只是赢得大选，这只是给变革提供了一个机会。假如我们仍然按照现有方式行事，就没有变革。没有你们，就没有变革。
老夫评语：
1、“This victory alone is not the change we seek”，“这场胜利本身，并不是我们要追求的变革。”直接翻译就很不错啊，为什么要人为地拐一下弯呢？接下来也正对啊，“这场胜利，不过是我们要进行变革的一个机会。”
2、“the way things were”是“现有方式行事”吗？那是个过去式，奥巴马在批评八年执政的共和党呢。从此时起，就一切都成为“过去式”了啊。这可能还是一种随性译法吧。
So let us summon a new spirit of patriotism; of service and responsibility where each of us resolves to pitch in and work harder and look after not only ourselves, but each other. Let us remember that if this financial crisis taught us anything, it's that we cannot have a thriving Wall Street while Main Street suffers. In this country, we rise or fall as one nation — as one people.
让我们发扬新的爱国精神，树立新的服务意识和责任感；让我们每个人下定决心，更加努力地工作，彼此关爱；让我们牢记这场金融危机带来的教训：不能允许商业街挣扎的同时却让华尔街繁荣。在这个国家，我们属于同一民族，我们患难与共。
