The present patent application discusses a frequency translation apparatus for altering the effective frequency of the phase information of an input signal (115). The input signal (115) has a first phase (.theta.(t)) and a first frequency (f.sub.i). The phase of the input signal is extracted and digitized at a second frequency (f.sub.o), forming a second N-bit digital phase signal (.theta.'(t))(311). The frequency translation apparatus generates a third digital phase signal (319) which approximates the difference between .theta.(t) and .theta.'(t). Then, the frequency translation apparatus combines the second digital phase signal and the third digital phase signal, forming a fourth digital phase signal (307) substantially approximating the first phase signal.