The Fake Interpreter at Mandela’s Memorial Service · Global Voices
Ndesanjo Macha

More than 90 world leaders were present at Nelson Mandela's memorial service, which had its fair share of faux pas. South Africa's president Jacob Zuma, and the Obama, Cameron, Schmidt were booed after being caught taking a ‘selfie’ at the service. Then there was the fake sign-language interpreter!
Yes, Thamsanqa Jantjie, the Mandela memorial interpreter was fake. He was not using any recognizable sign language. Writing on Limping Chicken, a deaf news blog, Professor Graham Turner, Chair of Translation & Interpreting Studies at Heriot-Watt University, Edinburgh pointed out that:
He didn’t use South African Sign Language. In fact, he didn’t use any language. What he produced there was 100% authentic gibberish.Lost
Thamsanqa Jantjie has claimed to have suffered from a schizophrenic episode that made him see angels and hear voices.
And then allegations surfaced that the ‘interpreter’ who stood a few meters away from world's leaders faced a murder charge in 2003.
The South African government has apologised for any offense caused by the sign-language interpreter.
Blogging on Thought Leader, South Africa writer Sarah Bitten pointed out that the fake interpreter showed the world that in South Africa you do not have to have any ability whatsoever to get a job:
In South Africa, the signing man told the world, you don’t actually have to know what you are doing in order to get a job. You don’t have to have any ability whatsoever, as long as it looks, to most, as though you can go through the motions — whether you are a teacher, a police officer, a bureaucrat, a government official or (as some have suggested) a state president.
There are those who see through you and complain, but they are ignored. Ours is not a culture of accountability. So one gig leads to the next. You’ve done it before so you get to do it again, because everyone in a position of power agrees that the emperor’s new threads are stylish. You stand there and tell us that the appearance of something becomes more important than the substance of it.
Many people wonder what he was saying. Several interpreters have emerged online to interpret him. YouTube user This is Genius posted humorous video below to show what the fake interpreter actually said:
Professor Graham listed 10 lessons from the fake interpreter saga.
1. Using a sign language fluently is not something one can do just by waving one’s hands around. Sign languages are grammatically-structured, rule-governed systems like all other natural human languages. You can’t produce meaningful signing off the cuff and – equally importantly – you can’t understand it spontaneously just by looking.
2. If you can’t sign, but require interpreting, you need reliable processes to help you identify effective provision. Interpreting isn’t a game: it should be run on a professional basis. This time, we saw a spectacular insult to the world’s Deaf people: but no-one died. Worldwide, every day, the result of inadequate interpreting leads to poor schooling, imprisonment, unemployment and health disparities. This must stop.
3. Without proper training, screening and regulation, people can and will take advantage. Even in countries like the UK, where sign language interpreting has become increasingly professionalised since the 1980s, smooth operators (who can talk the talk but not sign the sign) are legion. If you can’t sign, they may appear wholly plausible and be wholly bogus. Don’t guess and you won’t be fooled.
On Twitter, shocked users used the hashtag #fakeinterpreter to share their reactions to the revelation:
What's the big fuss about #fakeinterpreter we have had a fake president for 4 years and there have been no problems
— Mike (@mike_superb) December 12, 2013
BREAKING NEWS: #fakeinterpreter lashes out at Obama, after his refusal to give him a drone for Christmas. pic.twitter.com/zlFSG61ofp
— AbortedNews (@AbortedNews) December 12, 2013
#fakeinterpreter What the fake interpreter actually said. As decoded by @Julius_S_Malema pic.twitter.com/NxdDfqwis4
— Julius Sello Malema (@Julias_Malema) December 12, 2013
#fakeinterpreter Thamsanqa Jantjie [the fake interpreter] studied at the institute of emoticons (IOE) pic.twitter.com/tvAiEqHFYC
— Rae (@OnlyRaechel) December 12, 2013
Apparently, it was not his first time as this YouTube video from 2012 shows:
So what am I supposed to tell my kids now? They *can't* grow up to be a #fakeinterpreter? That will crush their dreams.
— Jeff Dwoskin (@bigmacher) December 12, 2013
With so many charges dropped, the #FakeInterpreter qualifies to be our next president [president Zuma corruption charges were dropped in 2009].
— Our land for Tata! (@ntuthukomax) December 13, 2013
If a man whos been accused of murder, rape, theft etc gets that close 2 Obama what hope do the rest of us have of security? #fakeinterpreter
— Natalie Germanos (@NatalieGermanos) December 13, 2013
“He is the one who gave people signs to BOOOO Zuma….this guy is good…!!!”….Hahaha :) #FakeInterpreter Thamsanqa Jantjie
— PHAKI † MAHAPA (@God_Of_This_Age) December 12, 2013
:””D “@iRep_YungEmpire: FOH :””D “@AbortedNews: What if the #fakeinterpreter was actually giving us tips on back routes to avoid E-Tolls?””” [refering to the new controversial electronic toll collection system in South Africa]
— IG : Miss_Hle06 (@Miss_Hle06) December 12, 2013
so hypocrisy | at the expense of this #FakeInterpreter we all of a sudden care about the deaf community, how many of us know how to sign ?
— SPOKMATHAMBO (@SpokMathambo) December 12, 2013
What a sad thing that the memory of Nelson Mandela will be stained by the phoney sign language moron who is in every picture at funeral!
— Donald J. Trump (@realDonaldTrump) December 13, 2013
#fakeinterpreter should get a job with Sarah Palin. His signing would still be complete gibberish but at least it'd be accurate.
— Jim Wright (@Stonekettle) December 13, 2013