develop ¹★

不是“爱因斯坦发展了相对论”，而是他创立了相对论。另外，一方面说“爱因斯坦发展了相对论”，另一方面又说“他通过数学得出这一理论”，这在行文上也有点不大对劲。develop除作“发展”解之外，还可作bring into existence解。按这个含义，汉语可视具体情况分别译为“产生”“出现”“制造”“研制”“研制成功”“培育”“发明”“创造”“建立”“创立”“患……(病)”等等。下面我们从英文原著中摘引一些例子，略加说明。

1. His plane developed engine trouble only seven miles after takeoff. 他的飞机起飞后刚刚飞行了7英里，发动机就发生了故障。

2. Modern aircraft are so heavy that the wings must develop a very large lift force in order to sustain the aircraft. 现代飞机重量很大,机翼必须产生巨大的升力,才能使飞机升入空中。

3. Inspired by these ideas, in 1752 Franklin developed a practical lightning rod. 富兰克林受这些想法的启发，于1752年发明了一种实用的避雷针。

4. A hypothesis is a specific statement developed by a scientist from observations. 假说是科

学家从观察中得出的一种特定的论断。

5. To develop this protective oxide, a minimum of 12% chromium is required. 为了形成这种保护性的氧化物，至少需要含12%的铬。

6. Until the domain theory of magnetism was developed, they did not have much success. 直至提出了磁畴理论,科学家们才取得了很大的成功。

7. To develop the capabilities of the geophysical prospecting, the renewal of the techniques and equipment is the first thing to be considered. 为了提高物探工作的能力,技术与设备的更新是必须首先考虑的因素。

8. Most of the money came from selling the secret of a new type of potato he had developed. 大部分钱是靠出售他培育出一种马铃薯新品种的秘诀而挣得的。

9. As young Goddard grew into manhood, he developed tuberculosis. 当年青的戈达德进入成年时，他患了结核病。

10. We must develop all the natural substances in our country which can make us rich. 我们必须开发能够使我们致富的我国的所有自然资源。

11. Several attempts have been made through the years to develop the deposit, although a fairly complicated wet beneficiation process is needed to allow separation of the clay... 虽然需要相当复杂的湿选法来分离这种粘土，但在这几年里还是进行了某些尝试来开采这个矿床……

12. In developing a design, the engineer must apply his knowledge of engineering and material science. 在进行设计时，工程师必须运用工程学和材料学的知识。

根据以上诸例可以看出,在英语里,develop 并不是总是作“发展”解。我们应当深入钻研原文,根据句意和上下文来选择适当译法。你所提问的例句似可改译如下:

[试译]创立相对论的阿·爱因斯坦是通过数学得出这一理论的。

下面我们再来考察一些具体的译例：

(1) One of the difficulties in the past has been the high cost, but now the space shuttle is being developed... (全国研考) [原译]过去的困难之一在于代价太高。但现在航天飞机正在发展……(标准答案)当原作者写这篇文章时，航天飞机尚未问世。尚未问世的东西，怎么不谈其产生，就谈其发展呢? [试译]……但是,现在正在研制航天飞机……

(2) If the heating element is exposed to air, it should be made of metal that does not oxidize readily, nickle-chromium alloys having been developed for this purpose. [北大《英语》(三), p. 19]

[原译]如果这种热元件暴露在空气中,它就应该用不易氧化的金属制成,镍铬合金就是为了这一目的而发展起来的。(教参)

[试译]如果这种热元件暴露在空气中,就应该用不易氧化的金属来制造,镍铬合金就是为了这种用途而研制出来的。

(3) Although television was developed for broadcasting, many important uses have been found that have nothing to do with it. [上海交大《英语》(二), p. 122]

[原译]虽然电视是为广播而发展的,但是电视还有许多与广播无关的重要用途。(教参)

[试译]虽然电视是为了进行广播而发明的……

(4) If we wish to counter-balance these losses to some extent, we shall have to follow two main courses of action: (a) much greater efforts will have to be applied to conservation, particularly of such items as soil, water, fuels and minerals; (b) more efficient methods of exploitation and utilization will have to be developed. (A Course in Basic Scientific English, p.69)

[原译]如果我们希望在一定程度上抵削这些耗损,我们将必须遵循两个主要的行动步骤:(a)必须在资源保护方面作出大得多的努力,特别是对诸如土壤、水、燃料和矿藏的保护;(b)必须发展开发和利用资源的更为有效的方法。(中译本)

[试译]……(b) 必须研究出……的方法。

(5) A universal reaction scheme has been developed, prevailing of the following single steps. [原译]已发展了主要由下列各单一工序组成的通用反应流程。(译巧) [试译]现在已经研究出一种通用的反应流程,它主要是由下列各单一的工序组成的。

(6) In the past hundred years, many different plastics were developed, in many cases the synthetic product being the result of the imitation of some natural materials. [《基础英语》(二), p. 15]

[原译]过去100年中,许多不同的塑料得到了发展。在很多情况下,合成产品是模仿天然材料制成的。(教参)

很明显,这个句子是谈各种塑料的问世,而不是谈它们的发展程度。这一点从后面的独立分词结构的内容可以得到证明。

[试译]在过去的100年里,人们研制出来了各种各样的塑料,这些合成产品在许多情况下都是模仿天然材料制成的。