The Untranslatability of Silence? A Voice in the Discussion on Translation of Catullus’ “Ad Inferias” by Anne Carson

Although Catullus’ relevance may appear diminished to modern audiences, his themes of intimacy and vulnerability still find echoes in newer works, notably Anne Carson’s translation of “Ad Inferias”, included in the book Nox. This analysis examines the debate about the perceived untranslatability of this poem. Catullus’ oeuvre is well known for its linguistic intricacies and explicit motifs, which often pose translation hurdles. “Ad Inferias”, a traditional elegy, seems to lack such complexities and has been frequently translated. As indicated, an existential interpretation of the verse “et mutam nequiquam alloquerer cinerem” (and that I would talk in vain to the silent ash), contextualized within Carson’s metaphysical silence concept, reframes the discussion. The article underscores the untranslatability as a primarily philosophical aspect, arising from the incommunicability of experiences centred around transcendence, death, mourning, and suffering, and presents examples of translations that maintain the emotional and thematic intensity of the piece.