Often, when available, I switch on the closed-captions while, watching movies in German because sometimes the being able to read the words as well make it easier to understand above accents and fast speech—and the text-version of the dialogue is sometimes simplified and leaves out slang and Englisch terminology. Also, when watching the nightly news, viewers respect the tolling bells that proceed the nationally syndicated programme like BBC watchers not daring to interrupt the pips that usher in the top of the hour, though all broadcasts are moderated by the same anchors, I like to watch the public stations that feature a sign-language interpreter—just to see how animated they are, when to my perspective they're just miming the news but trust that they are conveying volumes.
I was disappointed to learn how the interpreter commissioned for the occasion of the state funeral for Nelson Mandela was signing absolute gibberish, and not just because it was a solemn event but also was an insult to the hearing-impaired and the skill of those that know how to communicate in this medium—as it is not a form of communication dependent on its spoken equivalent and requires translation and there is no universal sign language, whether by other non-verbal forms or formal digital-speaking itself. It's a pathetic display and I'm glad it was revealed, because such an honour is not on the same level as lip-syncing or being a part of a choir and mouthing the word watermelon (because from the audience's point of view, that enunciation could be just about anything) because you don't know the piece. There's a pretty funny super-cut of the lampoons, however, to be found at the
link.
