This analysis of several principles of translation considers relationships between content and meaning, distinctive features and linguistic form, and language and speech. The dichotomies of individual and community speech patterns, situationally determined and independent language usage, and denotative and expressive usage are also examined. The author proposes that translation from a foreign language be based on the contents of linguistic form and that translation into a foreign language be based on the cluster of distinctive features making up the contextually ambiguous meaning of the native language form. The second part of the paper discusses the role of formal constraints in translation. A contrastive analysis of a Portuguese sentence and its translation into German illustrate this translation principle. (RL)