本週譯稿多數是中譯英，少數是英譯中。我當然一直準時交稿，因為我下筆時心思相當慎密，時間安排亦相當關鍵。中譯英的話，我可以兩三日專注翻譯六七千個中文字，譯完之後四五千英文字，然後審稿一次就交稿。
很多譯者或者對校對、審稿覺得很苦惱。其實原因很簡單。若譯者急著完成初稿而草草掠過很多專有名詞，而且祇以自己從字面的理解賦予這些詞彙一個翻譯版，到了審稿的時候就會發現錯誤連篇，整篇文章慘不忍睹。
我處理的方法就是寧可初稿放慢一些，多花時間搜尋相對應的詞彙、整理中英對照表，下筆的時候就想好文法，慢慢地站穩腳步，之後審稿就輕鬆得多。
初稿佳、審稿快；初稿劣、審稿慢。道理就是如此。
Most of the time I have been working on Chinese to English this week. I am always delivering on time, for I have been very careful when I am working on the first draft, and time arrangement is another key.
For Chinese to English language pair, within two to three days I can translate six to seven thousand Chinese words into a translated version of four to five thousand English words. It usually takes me one-time proofreading before I send the finalised work.
Many translators find it troublesome to work on proofreading. The reason is simple. When you are always rushing through your piece and coming up with your own creative terms for specific terms, you will then find your translated piece to be messy and full of mistakes.
I would rather slightly slow down when translating the first draft. I spend more time to search for corresponding bilingual terms and glossary. And I maintain good grammar on the first draft. Stand firm and without rush, I usually find my proofreading to be easier.
The reason is simple: good draft and easy proofreading; poor draft and difficult proofreading.
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