In operation, the turbine is spun by the high-pressure gases, and in turn spins the compressor rotor.
[原译]发动机工作时,高压气体带动涡轮旋转,接着带动压缩机转子旋转。(科普)
说“高压气体带动涡轮，接着带动压缩机转子旋转”似乎与事实不符。请分析。
这种译法在技术上是讲不通的,因为压缩机转子并不是直接由高压燃气带动旋转,而是由涡轮带动旋转的。造成误译的原因,除误解了原文的语法关系之外,还可能是误解了 in turn 在这里的真正含义。in turn 除可译作“轮流”“依次”之外,还可译作“(转过来)又”“反过来”“转而”“则”。下面举几个实例:
-
Libraries made education possible, and education in its turn added to libraries. 图书使教育成为可能，而教育反过来又增加了图书的数量和内容。
-
From the Chinese the Arabs learned to make compasses and to use them in navigation. The Arabs in turn introduced the compass to Europe. 阿拉伯人从中国人那里学会了制造指南针和在航海中使用指南针。后来阿拉伯人又把指南针传入欧洲。
-
The heat of the burning coal converts the water in the boiler to steam which, in turn, drives a turbine. 煤燃烧所产生的热量使锅炉中的水变成蒸汽，蒸汽则驱动汽轮机。
-
The steam can then be used to drive a steam turbine, which in turn can run a machine or drive an electric generator. 然后，蒸汽可以用来驱动汽轮机，汽轮机则能带动机器或驱动发电机。