Fake Deaf Signer
December 12, 2013 by staff
Fake Deaf Signer, South Africa’s deaf federation has claimed that an interpreter using sign language during the Mandela memorial was a “fake”.
Concerns over the male interpreter had been raised by deaf people watching the service at Johannesburg’s FNB Stadium on Tuesday.
Bruno Druchen, national director of the Deaf Federation of South Africa, said the unidentified man, who was on stage alongside world leaders including US President Barack Obama, “was moving his hands around but there was no meaning in what he used his hands for”.
Sign language experts have said there was no meaning to the man’s gestures
South African parliament member Wilma Newhoudt, a member of the ruling party, also said the man communicated nothing with his hand and arm movements.
Both Mr Druchen and Ms Newhoudt are deaf.
The revelation also raises concerns over security for world leaders
Three sign language experts said the man was not signing in South African or American sign languages.
South African sign language covers all of the country’s 11 official languages, according to the federation.
Nicole Du Toit, an official sign language interpreter who also watched the broadcast, said the man on stage was an “embarrassment”.
The man has not been identified
She said: “It was horrible, an absolute circus, really really bad.
“Only he can understand those gestures.”
Delphin Hlungwane, an official South African sign language interpreter with DeafSA, said authorities were trying to track the man down.
The man also failed to indicate that the crowd was booing Jacob Zuma
She said: “There was zero percent accuracy. He couldn’t even get the basics right. He couldn’t even say thank you.
“You’re supposed to indicate with your facial expressions, even if it’s not an exact sign. He didn’t indicate that (booing of Jacob Zuma) at all. It just passed him by.
“Nobody knows who he is. Even at this hour we still don’t have his name.”
_________________________________________
Please feel free to send if you have any questions regarding this post , you can contact on
Disclaimer: The views expressed on this site are that of the authors and not necessarily that of U.S.S.POST.
Comments