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<h1 class="">Sign language interpreter at Mandela ceremony called a 'fake'</h1>
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<div content="December 11, 2013" class="">December 11, 2013</div>
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<p>On Tuesday, the <a href="http://abcnews.go.com/International/wireStory/mandela-ceremony-interpreter-deemed-fake-21173616" target="_blank" rel="nofollow">Associated Press</a> reported the man who was supposed to be interpreting the speeches at the <a href="http://www.examiner.com/topic/memorial-service" class="">memorial service</a> for <a href="http://www.examiner.com/topic/nelson-mandela" class="">Nelson Mandela</a> for the hearing-impaired was a <a href="http://www.examiner.com/topic/fake" class="">fake</a>, moving his hands and arms, but saying nothing.</p>
<p>"It was horrible, an absolute circus, really bad," said Nicole Du Toit, an official <a href="http://www.examiner.com/topic/sign-language" class="">sign language</a> <a href="http://www.examiner.com/topic/interpreter" class="">interpreter</a> who watched the broadcast. "Only he can understand those gestures."</p>
<p>Bruno Druchen, national director of the Deaf Federation of South
Africa, told the AP the man "was moving his hands around but there was
no meaning in what he used his hands for."</p>
<p>Four experts, including Druchen, 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, the AP added. South African parliament member
Wilma Newhoudt, a member of the ruling party who is deaf, echoed those
concerns.</p>
<p>According to the federation, South African sign language covers the 11 official languages spoken in the country.</p>
<p>It's not the first time the unidentified man was used to provide interpretation services for the hearing-impaired, the AP said.</p>
<p>Last year, he was videotaped interpreting a speech attended by South
African President Jacob Zuma, Druchen said. After that performance, a
formal complaint was filed with the ANC.</p>
<p>The federation suggested he take the five-year training required to become a qualified interpreter, but the ANC never responded.</p>
<p>A fresh complaint will be filed with the ANC, Druchen said.</p>
<p>"We want to make a statement that this is a warning to other sign
language interpreters who are fake and go about interpreting," Druchen
told the AP. "I am hoping the South African government will take notice
of this."</p>
<p>Part of the problem is that people who know very few signs get hired
by people who don't know sign language, said Ingrid Parkin, principal of
the St. Vincent School for the Deaf in Johannesburg, who said she
received complaints from around the globe.</p>
<p>"They advertise themselves as interpreters because they know 10 signs
and they can make some quick money," Parkin said. "It is plain and
simple abuse of the deaf community, they are taking advantage of the
deaf community to make money."</p>
<p><a href="http://www.newsmaxworld.com/GlobalTalk/mandela-ceremony-interpreter-fake/2013/12/11/id/541173" target="_blank" rel="nofollow">Newsmax</a> said the AP interviewed Druchen, who also is deaf, and Newhoudt by telephone using an interpreter.</p>
<p><a href="http://www.examiner.com/article/sign-language-interpreter-at-mandela-ceremony-called-a-fake">http://www.examiner.com/article/sign-language-interpreter-at-mandela-ceremony-called-a-fake</a><br></p><p><br></p><br clear="all">
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