The exact translation of the term double bind seems to be a rather difficult task, because the semantic structure of the Russian language does not allow preserving all the semantic ambiguity of this English expression.
In Russian literature, there is a certain tradition of translating this term as “double bond” (see, for example, A.M. Rutkevich. From Freud to Heidegger. M., 1985, p. 132). However, there are also such options as “double signal”, “double command”, “double order”, “double message”, “double knot”, “double clamp”, “double trap”, etc.
Comments on translations
When translating double bind with a turn of the “double signal” type, a number of meanings are completely lost. By themselves, the expressions “double signal” or “double bond” in Russian sound quite ethically neutral and do not give rise to associations with something false, deceitful, fraudulent, insidious, malicious, cynical, and even possibly criminal. Meanwhile, Bateson explicitly defines an individual in a double bind situation as a «victim».
This is where the line between «double signal» and double bind passes. In order for a “double signal” to turn into an imputing double bind, this “signal” must be received from an instance for which its recipient recognizes the right to “impute” and whose imputation is considered binding and not subject to discussion. Communication of this kind implies not only specific violations in the sphere of formal logic, but also an asymmetric distribution of power in the communicative context. This remains true in the case of the «therapeutic double bind» as well, since some possibilities of this kind are obviously assumed for the therapist.
Taking into account all the above considerations, translators and publishers agreed that at the moment the most acceptable Russian turn for «double bind» is «double bind». This option, on the one hand, carries certain communicative connotations, and on the other hand, it is seen as a reasonable compromise between the excessive passion of the “clamp” and “trap” and the complete abstractness of the “signal”.
Although it is quite possible that after some time the Russian language will assimilate this “newcomer”, and the combination of “double-bind” will become no more difficult for the Russian language and ear than the already completely Russified “gestalt”, “pattern”, “interface” or “ virtual website on the provider’s server.