Cyclone Marcia: Auslan interpreter for Premier Annastacia Palaszczuk is ‘hypnotic, mesmerising’
A SIGN language expert for Premier Annastacia Palaszczuk’s updates on Cyclone Marcia has been praised as “hypnotic, mesmerising and poetic”.
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AN Auslan sign language interpreter for Premier Annastacia Palaszczuk’s updates on Cyclone Marcia has been praised as “hypnotic, mesmerising and poetic” on social media.
The animated sign language expert captured the attention of television viewers as he translated the Premier’s updates on the cyclone at Emergency Management Queensland Headquarters at Kedron.
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Mark Cave, 30, has been a sign language interpreter for 12 years but says Tropical Cyclone Marcia is the first natural disaster situation that he has been involved with.
“It’s a very interesting experience,” the Deaf Services Queensland interpreter said.
“It’s a very dynamic situation and you have to be prepared at any time.”
Commentators say the interpreter is doing a top notch job.
“He’s the best in the business,” one post said.
“I didn’t understand any of it, but he was so mesmerising to watch — like a hypnotist,” another said.
A comment on Reddit said: “The pathos in his interpretation turned a bland press conference in to poetry. Annastacia Palaszczuk should keep him around all the time.”
Mr Cave said his friends and family had sent him screenshots of comments online.
“It’s is an unusual thing. A lot of people haven’t seen it before, so it’s nice that there is a bit of awareness getting out there about the deaf community and sign language,” he said.
“I’m sort of a private person. I’d rather not be in the spotlight but I know this is such an important thing to do and I feel confident I can do a good job,” he said.
“I’m just hoping to fly under the radar and nobody will look at me afterwards.”
He said, prior to the media briefings, he is allowed to sit in on the committee meetings to become familiar with the type of language and statistics that will be announced.
“It just means I’ll do a much better job interpreting on the spot,” he said.
“The information comes through in torrents and you have to be prepared to deal with it, but the staff here have been really supportive.”
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