Fake sign language interpreter at Mandela's memorial

[Jennasis]

So...what do you make of this one? Turns out the guy signing on stage for 4 hours during the memorial was signing nothing at all. Just hand motion gibberish.

 

[wiigirl]

Thats kind of messed up. Wouldn't someone notice?

 

[FireDancer]

The guy managed to pull of quite the worldwide prank. I think it is funny he had the balls to try it and no one organizing the memorial managed to catch on. Did they not check a reference or two before signing him up (pun intended)?

 

[DWGal210]

YIKES. That is awful. How'd he dupe the memorial organizers into thinking he knew sign language is what I want to know, or did they hire him just because he said he could. In any event, that's so disrespectful both to deaf persons and Nelson Mandela.

 

[MooskaMinnie]

So...what do you make of this one? Turns out the guy signing on stage for 4 hours during the memorial was signing nothing at all. Just hand motion gibberish.

How did he even get access to the stage? Very odd!

 

[ellone]

The guy managed to pull of quite the worldwide prank. I think it is funny he had the balls to try it and no one organizing the memorial managed to catch on. Did they not check a reference or two before signing him up (pun intended)?

I read something that fake sign language interpreters are rampant in South Africa. Someone knows 10 signs and then claims they are an expert. No one checks to see if a person actually knows sign language.

There were complaints that this guy didn't know sign language from other engagements he had.

 

[Jennasis]

So many questions. Also seems like at least a few noticed DURING the event. Why he wasn't stopped?

 

[Imzadi]

I watched for a few seconds when Obama was speaking. I noticed the guy didn't seem to know sign language. But, then I thought maybe the signs for Afrikaans was much different.

Sign language is NOT international. Each country, region and language actually has different signs for their languages. You'd think they'd have some universal signs, but each language developed separately. To try to impose a universal sign language would be the same as someone coming and imposing a universal language on American English. Even that is somewhat different than British English.

 

[SandrA9810]

I watched for a few seconds when Obama was speaking. I noticed the guy didn't seem to know sign language. But, then I thought maybe the signs for Afrikaans was much different.

Sign language is NOT international. Each country, region and language actually has different signs for their languages. You'd think they'd have some universal signs, but each language developed separately. To try to impose a universal sign language would be the same as someone coming and imposing a universal language on American English. Even that is somewhat different than British English.

ASL is actually the most commonly used in Africa. Many of their first teachers learned sign in America and brought it back. But the Deaf community there is very small and very few teachers know the full language. As with any language, I'm sure there are regional differences.
I think ASL is more like French Sign, and Britain sign is way different than ASL.

 

[SeaSpray]

I don't think it matters what type or version of sign language that he was or might have been doing; the point is that he wasn't doing ANY kind of sign language.

And this guy didn't think that anyone would notice?!

I think it's very disrespectful.

 

[Deb in IA]

How embarrassing.

From news souces:

Four sign language experts said the man was not signing in South African or American sign languages and could not have been signing in any other known sign language because there was no structure to his arm and hand movements.

And he's done it before. The man also did sign interpretation at an event last year that was attended by South African President Jacob Zuma. At that appearance, a deaf person in the audience videotaped the event and gave it to the federation for the deaf, which analyzed the video, prepared a report about it and a submitted a formal complaint to the ANC, Druchen said.

In their complaint, the federation suggested that the man should take the five years of training needed to become a qualified sign language interpreter in South Africa. But the ANC never responded.

 

[Gumbo4x4]

I want him at my funeral. My survivors will all be so

 

[EMAW_KSU]

How did he even get access to the stage? Very odd!

They hired him.

 

[DWGal210]

How embarrassing.

For some reason I can't quote the article piece. Yeah that is pretty awful. And pretty ballsy of this guy to do it again so blatantly.

(And Deb when I see your profile info about Iowa City, IA not Ohio or Idaho I chuckle. I went to Univ of IA and live in Cedar Falls. I remember when one of my brothers was going to UofI, we saw a shirt in the bookstore that read, "University of Iowa, Idaho City, Ohio." Almost bought it. )

 

[EMom]

It could be worse. The "interpreter" could have taken a grinning selfie.....

But seriously, it's NELSON MANDELA's memorial. You'd think that they'd get the virtual Olympic champion of sign language for that occasion.

SNL could wreak havoc with that memorial. Between the selfies, the glares and the fake interpreter, it is comedy gold. It shouldn't have been, but it was.

 

[FlightlessDuck]

Here's an article:

http://www.usatoday.com/story/news/world/2013/12/11/mandela-south-africa-deaf-fake/3985257/

 

[Jennasis]

It could be worse. The "interpreter" could have taken a grinning selfie.....

But seriously, it's NELSON MANDELA's memorial. You'd think that they'd get the virtual Olympic champion of sign language for that occasion.

SNL could wreak havoc with that memorial. Between the selfies, the glares and the fake interpreter, it is comedy gold. It shouldn't have been, but it was.

Meh. I have no problem with the photo taking. I don't know that Mrs. Obama did either. Her facial expression means nothing. She could have been thinking about anything. And on NO planet is the "selfie" worse than the what the interpreter did. Not even remotely.

 

[North of Mouse]

A final insulting show of disrespect!

 

[EMom]

Meh. I have no problem with the photo taking. I don't know that Mrs. Obama did either. Her facial expression means nothing. She could have been thinking about anything. And on NO planet is the "selfie" worse than the what the interpreter did. Not even remotely.

I think both were tasteless and showed a lack of respect. I made sure DD knew to never take a selfie under such circumstances. Thankfully, she thought it was disrespectful as well, so we're good on that one. And no, this is not political. I would expect any leader of any country (no matter their party) to know "it just isn't done" to take a selfie at such an occasion, especially considering you are representing your country. To be honest, I had hoped it was a fake and photoshopped, but it appears it was not.

Was Michelle fuming or just serious? Who can say, given that her face is in direct and distinct contrast to the faces involved in the silliness going on next to her? To be honest, I found her facial occasion more appropriate, given the occasion.

I guess the "interpreter" was somewhat worse, in that people might have been depending on him to understand what was being said.

As I said, the entire occasion was fodder for SNL and that is pathetic.

 

[GRUMPY PIRATE]

four hours?

why didn't someone in charge didn't change out interpreters. I would think that they would have several booked, especially since they knew that the service would go over a few hours.

I would think that one signer would get tired after two or three speakers.