Merged Nelson Mandela Ceremony Sign Language Interpreter a 'Fake'

[coalesce]

I think he just told me to either steal second base or throw a slider away.

Michael

 

[WildCat]

Here is his twitter feed.

https://twitter.com/MemorialSigner

 

[commandlinegamer]

Maybe it's a Corn Gods' code. Has anyone done the calculations?

 

[patchbunny]

Poptart. POPTARRRRRT!

 

[LaurelHS]

It wasn't a funeral, it was a memorial and the whole stadium was singing and dancing. I see no reason why when another head of state asks you to be in a picture with them at a historic celebration you shouldn't oblige.

Even less interesting was President Obama's shaking Raul Castro's hand.

If Obama had refused to be in the selfie and/or refused to shake hands with Castro, we'd probably have tabloids complaining about how rude this was. Public figures can't win sometimes.

 

[Ziggurat]

You mean the tabloids are misrepresenting something in order to manufacture controversy? I'm shocked, I tell you.

The BBC (does that count as a tabloid?) called it a memorial, not a funeral. Squeegee Beckenheim mentioned "funeral face", which carries the implication (but not the explicit claim) that it was a funeral, but that's him, not his source.

But I'm more amused by the sequence of shots that emerged. Yes, it's not serious news, and yes, that link incorrectly calls it a "funeral". But the pictures are still pretty funny.

 

[Skwinty]

"He later apologised for his actions saying he was ‘alone in a dangerous situation’ and that there was nothing he could do"


http://www.news24.com/SouthAfrica/News/Fake-interpreter-says-he-is-Schizophrenic-20131212

ETA: soundcloud recording of interview with signer this morning.

https://t.co/XBjmKB0oa9

 

[Ernie M]

Thamsanqa Jantjies: pathological liar?

While it has been reported that Thamsanqa Jantjies (the fake interpreter) stated he suffered a schizophrenic episode that resulted to his being on stage at the memorial, I'm hesitant to accept that explanation. It is my opinion that Thamsanqa is a pathological liar.

Thamsanqa Jantjies has appeared as a sign language interpreter at past dignitary events, so he has a history of the same, deceptive behavior.

As best I can tell from video and still images I've seen, Jantjies appears to have paid attention to his personal hygiene; he's clean-shaven, neatly and professionally-dressed (although I feel his blue & pink-colored shirt with the tie with thin stripes combination was too flashy and inappropriate). Thamsanqa was organized; he took steps necessary to get to Nelson Mandela's memorial, and get on stage. His physical appearance and ability to get on stage, to me, would've taken organization and planning, with the ability to follow-through. I don't see his appearance and actions as being aligned with a schizophrenic episode.

So I don't believe Thamsanqa's behavior, personal hygiene, and dress, fit with schizophrenia-related issues. Maybe he does suffer from schizophrenia, but to me, Thamsanqa is a pathological liar and suffers from other issues that resulted to this event. I believe Thamsanqa wants to be known as someone who helps people (even though he's not helping), and that he has a desire to be around 'successful' policy-making/governing-type people because he himself has not been able to become "successful" in the public arena.

 

[Squeegee Beckenheim]

The BBC (does that count as a tabloid?) called it a memorial, not a funeral. Squeegee Beckenheim mentioned "funeral face", which carries the implication (but not the explicit claim) that it was a funeral, but that's him, not his source.

Actually, as I said, and as I referred to in the post that you quoted, my original source was the front pages of the British tabloids. I always give them a quick once-over when I go to the shops, not to see what the news actually is, but to see what's being said.

 

[Squeegee Beckenheim]

"He later apologised for his actions saying he was ‘alone in a dangerous situation’ and that there was nothing he could do"


http://www.news24.com/SouthAfrica/News/Fake-interpreter-says-he-is-Schizophrenic-20131212

It's a good excuse. Not particularly likely if the reports of there already having been complaints filed against him are true, though. Unless he hallucinates every time he has to interpret, in which case a change of career might be a good idea.

 

[Puppycow]

He "stands by his work"

http://edition.cnn.com/2013/12/12/world/africa/mandela-memorial-fake-intepreter/

My question: who hired him? Shouldn't that person be facing tough questions?

 

[Skwinty]

The ANC government hired him at R800/day.

It's not what you know, it's who you know.

The deputy minister has been on TV trying to spin the issue.

 

[commandlinegamer]

Reports via Twitter, so confirmation needed, is that he has been being treated for schizophrenia.

Whether this man is ill or not, you'd think someone in charge might have taken a little trouble to check his fitness to do the job in question.

 

[Puppycow]

The ANC government hired him at R800/day.

It's not what you know, it's who you know.

The deputy minister has been on TV trying to spin the issue.

"The government" is rather vague. There must be an individual person in the government who is responsible.

 

[Agatha]

I realised he wasn't signing BSL or ASL (and there is no reason why he would be signing either of those) , but didn't realise he was making it up! How embarrassing. It's a great shame that this and the selfie non-story have overshadowed the memorial.

 

[Skwinty]

"The government" is rather vague. There must be an individual person in the government who is responsible.

Do you think that the ANC will give that information?

They have spin doctors for these occasions. Today it's Dep Minister Bagopane Zulu.

Also, the ANC never admit to individualism as they accept collective responsibility.

 

[angrysoba]

It is quite amusing to watch him, knowing that he's fake.

Although in retrospect it appears that his repertoire of hand motions is rather limited.

There's an article here saying that (again in retrospect) the give-away was his lack of expressiveness, particularly on his face. There's also commentary about a previous sign-language episode in which apparently there may have been some complaints about the signer being "too expressive" interpreting hurricane news, when in fact, such expressiveness is a perfectly normal or even necessary part of good signing:

http://languagelog.ldc.upenn.edu/nll/?p=8960#more-8960

 

[Skwinty]

Apparently the signer is also being investigated for ZAR 1.5 million fraud.

The Justice department also received complaints about Jantjies holding a staff member hostage with a brick.

Whats red and bad for your teeth, A brick, now stfu and get into the closet.

 

[Bob001]

There's an article here saying that (again in retrospect) the give-away was his lack of expressiveness, particularly on his face. There's also commentary about a previous sign-language episode in which apparently there may have been some complaints about the signer being "too expressive" interpreting hurricane news, when in fact, such expressiveness is a perfectly normal or even necessary part of good signing:

http://languagelog.ldc.upenn.edu/nll/?p=8960#more-8960

This link is a great introduction to how sign language works. It includes a several-minute clip of a press conference by Mayor Bloomberg about Hurricane Sandy with a (real) sign interpreter working next to him. She is enormously animated, including mouthing words and making faces. Some of it is actually funny; when the mayor says "we just don't know," she taps her forehead and rolls her eyes; when someone asks about pollutants in the water, she makes a sour face; when someone asks about the water receding, she flutters her hands downward. She's in constant motion. Any expert would have spotted the Mandela fraud in about two seconds.

 

[!Kaggen]

What I want to know is why the NIA did not pick up that Obama was giving his speech standing next to a lunatic fake artist.
Too busy looking for the next Snowdon perhaps?