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Deaf interpreter goes viral over dramatic expressions

A sign-language interpreter at a New York press conference about Ebola has caught international attention for his dramatic facial expressions, with some accusing him of being a fraud.

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A screen grab from the press conference. (YouTube)

Video footage of a press conference about Ebola has gone viral after some social media users accused a sign-language interpreter of being a fake.

The interpreter, Jonathan Lamberton, was seated next to New York hospital chief Dr. Ram Raju and Mayor Bill de Blasio during the briefing about Ebola.

As he interpreted what was being said, social media users took to Twitter to note his dramatic facial expressions and gestures.

But some were a little less "mesmerized," instead accusing Mr Lamberton of being a fraud.

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But Mr Lamberton, who is a certified deaf interpreter, hit back at the accusations of fraud, saying people were "naive" about the process of signing.

In an interview with the Deaf and Hearing Network (DHN), Mr Lamberton explained that he was working with another interpreter, who was sitting in the front row of the conference and signing to him. Mr Lamberton was then interpreting the words for the audience and cameras.

In the video interview, he said that might have been a cause of confusion. 

"Some people saw the two of us signing and they thought we were just hanging out and having our own conversation; talking back and forth," he said.

He said he was expressive with his face and body when signing because it made his words easier to understand.

"It's much more clear if you show concern with your face and body," he said.

Mr Lamberton responds to questions over his signing:


2 min read

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Source: SBS


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