VOA标准英语2013--南非将调查曼德拉追悼会“冒牌手语翻译”一事

 

South Africa Investigating Mandela Sign Interpreter 南非将调查曼德拉追悼会“冒牌手语翻译”一事

South Africa's government says it is investigating the alleged¹ incorrect use of sign language at a ceremony honoring late President Nelson Mandela.  The country's top  association for the deaf has called the interpreter a fake.  The man in question, Thamsanqa Jantjie, has blamed a schizophrenic episode for his performance.

Questions are flying about the sign interpreter who was on stage at Nelson Mandela's memorial service in Johannesburg on Tuesday.

Sign language experts say while dignitaries and guests delivered their eulogies² and others listened, the man used hand signals that meant nothing.

The Deaf Federation³ of South Africa has condemned⁴ the presence of the man.

"He got many things wrong," explained Delphin Hlungwane, spokeswoman for Deaf Federation of South Africa. "Actually he has zero percent accuracy.  If you do a  comparison of what was said and what he was signing, zero percent accuracy.''

More than 60,000 people attended the memorial service at Johannesburg's main sports stadium and millions more watched on TV.

They saw an interpreter who critics say was not qualified⁵ to be there, with one labeling him a "complete fraud."One South African sign interpreter called it an embarrassing moment.

"When I saw this, I actually felt very upset, and I felt I wanted to go to the event and chase the interpreter off the stage," said South African sign interpreter,  trainer Abraham Maripan. "The memorial service of Madiba [Nelson Mandela] is such an important event, and we feel embarrassed and the whole world was looking at us,  and it's serious.

There has been speculation⁶ the sign interpreter used a different African language.  But the Deaf Federation of South Africa said that is impossible.

1 alleged   

a.被指控的，嫌疑的

参考例句：

• It was alleged that he had taken bribes while in office. 他被指称在任时收受贿赂。
• alleged irregularities in the election campaign 被指称竞选运动中的不正当行为

2 eulogies   

n.颂词，颂文( eulogy的名词复数 )

参考例句：

• Her latest film has brought eulogies from the critics. 她最近的这部电影获得影评界的好评。 来自互联网

3 federation   

n.同盟，联邦，联合，联盟，联合会

参考例句：

• It is a federation of 10 regional unions.它是由十个地方工会结合成的联合会。
• Mr.Putin was inaugurated as the President of the Russian Federation.普京正式就任俄罗斯联邦总统。

4 condemned   

adj. 被责难的, 被宣告有罪的 动词condemn的过去式和过去分词

参考例句：

• He condemned the hypocrisy of those politicians who do one thing and say another. 他谴责了那些说一套做一套的政客的虚伪。
• The policy has been condemned as a regressive step. 这项政策被认为是一种倒退而受到谴责。

5 qualified   

adj.合格的，有资格的，胜任的，有限制的

参考例句：

• He is qualified as a complete man of letters.他有资格当真正的文学家。
• We must note that we still lack qualified specialists.我们必须看到我们还缺乏有资质的专家。

6 speculation   

n.思索，沉思；猜测；投机

参考例句：

• Her mind is occupied with speculation.她的头脑忙于思考。
• There is widespread speculation that he is going to resign.人们普遍推测他要辞职。