(1)But neither psychiatric interviews nor objective tests were able to show any effects upon these American sailors. (NCE, Book 4, L. 31)
[原译]但是进行精神病走访或对象试验在这些美国水兵身上都不能显示出效果。(中译本)
(2) Of especial interest are the laws dealing with the effects of forces upon the form and motion of objects... (研考英语试题)
[原译]论述施加于物体的外形及运动的力的效应的定律是特别有趣的……(研考答案)
上面两个译文对 effects upon/of 的译法似觉不妥。请分析。
the effect of A (up) on B 或 the effect (up) on B of A 是英语里一个常用的结构, 意为 A 对 B 的影响(或作用), 也就是说, 虽然从语法上说, of A 和 (up) on B 都是 effect 的定语, 但从逻辑上说, A 是主语性的, B 是宾语性的。类例:
- Plato's teachings had a profound effect on Aristotle.
A. depth B. affection C. affliction D. influence(TOEFL) 柏拉图的学说对于亚里士多德有深刻的影响。
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It is usually argued that the earliest influences exerted upon children will most likely have the strongest effects on their personalities. (TOEFL) 一般的观点是对孩子的最早期的影响,很可能对他们个性的形成起最大的作用。
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To determine the reasons for this disparity, a series of tests were initiated to develop a clearer understanding of the effects of variations in machining conditions on the performance of diamond grinding wheels. 为了确定造成这种差异的原因,进行了一系列的试验,以便比较清楚地了解各种不同的机械加工条件对金刚石磨轮性能的影响。
[试译]但是,无论精神病学方面的调查,还是客观的试验都未曾表明噪音对这些美国水兵有什么影响。
在例(2)中译者把 upon the form and motion of objects 看成是 forces 的定语了。这不仅不符合物理概念,而且也不符合英语语法。
[试译]关于力对物体形状和物体运动的作用的定律,是具有特殊的意义的……
effect/affect 见 affect