Posted on 12/11/2013 6:31:44 PM PST by ransomnote
ou can't make things like this up, but this unnamed man apparently did.
From AP via My Way News (12/11/2013):
Mandela ceremony interpreter called a 'fake'
JOHANNESBURG (AP) - A man who provided sign language interpretation on stage for Nelson Mandela's memorial service, attended by scores of heads of state, was a "fake," the national director of the Deaf Federation of South Africa said on Tuesday.
Asked about the claim by The Associated Press, South Africa's government said it was preparing a statement.
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. It wasn't immediately clear if the unidentified man was using a different method to communicate.
The unidentified man seen around the world on television next to leaders like U.S. President Barack Obama "was moving his hands around but there was no meaning in what he used his hands for," said Bruno Druchen, the federation's national director.
Nicole Du Toit, an official sign language interpreter who also watched the broadcast, said in a telephone interview that the man on stage purporting to sign was an embarrassment.
"It was horrible, an absolute circus, really really bad," she said. "Only he can understand those gestures."
South African parliament member Wilma Newhoudt, a member of the ruling party who is deaf, also said the man communicated nothing with his hand and arm movements. AP interviewed both Druchen, who also is deaf, and Newhoudt by telephone using an interpreter.
The man's identity hasn't been disclosed.
Video from UK's Telegraph:
(Excerpt) Read more at ex-skf.blogspot.com ...
Bwahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahaha
Just curious, was this ‘interpreter’ being projected on the big screen for everyone in the stadium to see?
Funniest story I’ve read here or anywhere.
Gestures all looked the same.
What was the medal that he was wearing? Same as
others?
A selfie award for smartest person on the podium?
He was.
He met the one requirement for the job. Jeez cut him a break.
Must have been ESL (Ebonics Sign Language) instead of ASL (American Sign Language. Whether it’s verbal ebonics or signed ebonics..you don’t have a fu—ing clue what they are saying.
SNL gave it this treatment years ago.
WINNNER!
The big toss up here is, two black men with no identity who also don’t have any clue what their jobs are in the same room. Nearly impossible odds.
I would rather have this guy interpreting instead!
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=N5bg1No_RSE
I’m pretty sure the comedian Chris Tucker said it was Blackinese!
He was just flashing gang signs to the hood.
What did the guy actually "sign"?
Bet the transcript is hilarious.
Do they have a lot of deaf people in South Africa for some reason?
Have any deaf people protested? It’s like your favorite US Peasadent’s Papa Bush’s favorite ADA legislation, which requires that wheelchair lifts be built to barber shops that have one step up to enter in towns where no wheelchair residents have ever or will ever be seen.
That fits quite well since ghetto boy Obama was talking absolute gibberish in his speech.
Does anybody speak Sign JIVE?
I have been married to to a deaf woman for 14 years and we attend a church that has a deaf congregation and I couldn’t tell you one thing they guy said. I know there are different signs for different countries but I didn’t recognize any of them. Members of the deaf congregation (wife included) have been on mission trips to other countries and their sign language is quite different but this dude seriously looked as if he was a black Curly from the Three Stooges making up signs.
Nelson Mandela memorial fake sign language interpreter - what he actually said - http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=gG57ncLTCNc&sns
He was signing in cursive!
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