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THE DEAF FEDERATION of South Africa has described the interpreter used during Nelson Mandela’s memorial service yesterday as a “fake”.
In a statement issued today, the national director Bruno Druchen said the deaf community were outraged, confirming that the man who was shown on screens across the globe is not a recognised professional interpreter.
“He is not known by the Deaf Community in South Africa nor by the South African Sign Language interpreters working in the field,” he said.
The news first came to light through a deaf community site, The Limping Chicken, which said the man was signing in a way they were not familiar with.
With his statement his morning, Druchen listed the mistakes the man made during the broadcast, including grammar errors and the lack of facial expressions.
“In South African Sign Language, facial expressions are an important part of communication. The facial expressions you use while doing a sign will affect the meaning of that sign,” he explained.
Handshapes used were meaningless, he added, before concluding:
This ‘fake interpreter’ has made a mockery of South African Sign Language and has disgraced the South African Sign Language interpreting profession. The organisers of the memorial service, and indeed any event, should have contacted organisations who coordinate South African Sign Language interpreting services to secure a professional, trained experienced interpreter.
Concerns about the sign language being used while presidents Jacob Zuma and Barack Obama delivered speeches were noted across social media sites during the memorial yesterday.
South African parliament member Wilma Newhoudt, a member of the ruling party and deaf community, also confirmed that the man communicated nothing with his hand and arm movement.
(YouTube: Andy Palmer)
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Don’t worry, Micky D won’t rock the boat.
He’s firmly embedded in the establishment now.
@Tommy Haze: By “Micky D” challenging the Government’s Bill, is he not actually rocking the boat.
@Sean O’Doherty: hes not challenging it, just checking that its constitutional he can request further clarification and changes but the real challanges only occur in the courts
@Spanner: correct
Please allow us to keep the corruption flowing, yours sincerely, FFG.
@bruce banner: Labour managed to get a few of their “cronies” into the lower courts over the years too. Decent lawyers that became judges admiringly . How’s it corruption ? Do you understand the term ? Any of those credible and good enough to be a judge would normally make more money practicing as barristers and solicitors . Vastly more money to be made in the private sector and far less hassle compared to what judges have to deal , professionally and personally . What judge appointments to the Superior courts have you or do you take issue with , in light of their legal background ?
Hey, can we talk about Israel/Palestine and the Garda roster disputes here? Seen as though its pretty much the only comments section actually open….
@Irish turf: Individual opinions are not allowed and are dangerous…to the agenda
@Dave Murray: no, don’t , please . (Obviously one can’t stop you ) This section is about appointment of judges . Your attempt to hijack the topic is why so many articles close their comment section
@Brian Deadly: they tend to be very expensive when they are defamatory . Hence why The Journal close them down .
TJ is really not taking any chances with the trouble in the Middle East.
The memo must have gone out on Saturday to shut down all discussion and debate on the topic.
Should get rid of the comments section if you are closing all the ones people want to comment on.
War is bad but if you keep walking over people and denying their freedom they will react at times.
Well said.
No coment, nó coment, irish goverment need to grow a pair and call out Israel. Complete blockage on Gaza, 2 million people starved
@Spudgesh: fully agree.
Top 5 stories, no comments aloud.
@Jay Kay: allowed
Thoughts and prayers with those on both sides of the Gaza Strip.
Is this normal, or just his mouth always open ? Does he use any medication
@ibrahim Sudane: It’s a thinly disguised grimace. He’s not been well since Sabine had the Strapadictome.
Have the GRA taken over the j0urnal. About 90% of comments are closed, even Ardal O’Hanlon and it obviously isn’t listening to anyone’s comments.
I hope Michael D will find time between his holidays to meet the Council of State. Is it not time to stop Govt appointees and separate the Judiciary and State
Was listening to Shatter on radio earlier. He is further to the right than Net in yahooo and given his record in Justice presumably supports the nets supreme court stance. What happened, to both people’s is disgusting but as usual, nobody is asking, WHY, it has gotten this bar baric. History is conveniently ignored! Every Time I watch a doc on the Holocaust, I wonder what lessons were learned and all of this in the name of religion. At this rate only Atheists will be allowed into heaven. Can you imagine if the Messiah arrived in Gaza tomorrow. No water to turn into wine. I am not belittling the tragedy, I am belittling religious human beliefs. The only thing that is going to stop this is climate change.
@BarryH: With the big exception of his eagerness to support the senior police officers , without looking at the evidence , during the whistle blowers affair ; Shatter was a pretty good Justice Minister ! His hands were tied by huge economic obstacles which in turn forced him to close down Garda stations and put a freeze on recruitment. While neither of these black marks are small fry, he was an excellent minister . In case you have not noticed but , Ireland is not a left wing country ! At best it’s centrist and centre right with the occasional centre left . You want some to big done , want hard and tough decisions made , you vote right wing .
Islamic terrorists on the Luas lines?
Very informative thank you.
Rory Sully ( Irish legal systems )
@Rors: yeah
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