The sign language interpreter criticized by organizations for the deaf as giving "meaningless" signs during the memorial service for Nelson Mandela has blamed a schizophrenic episode for his performance.

已故南非领袖曼德拉追悼仪式上被指胡乱比划的手语翻译声称，他之所以作出这些莫名其妙的手势，是因为突发精神分裂症。

Thamsanqa Jantjie told a Johannesburg newspaper, The Star, that he heard voices and hallucinated during Tuesday's service, which affected his ability to interpret the speeches by leaders such as U.S. President Barack Obama.

这位男子名叫塞姆桑加·扬蒂洁（Thamsanqa Jantjie）。他星期四对约翰内斯堡《明星报》说， 在星期二的追悼仪式上，他听到异常声音，产生幻觉，这影响了他对美国总统奥巴马等领导人讲话的手语翻译。

He said he was sorry, and that there was nothing he could do.He also told South Africa's Radio 702 on Thursday that he was happy with his work.

他表示对不起，并说他对此无能为力。他还对自己的业务能力进行了辩护。他星期四对南非702电台说，他对自己的工作很满意。

"Absolutely, what I've been doing, I think that I've been a champion of sign language as I've been saying that.You know, I've interpreted many big events, not only the event in question now."

他说：“我对我一直在做的绝对满意，就像我说的那样，我一向是头号的手语专家。你知道，我为很多重大活动做过翻译，不仅仅是现在出问题的这次。”

South Africa's Deputy Minister of Women, Children and People with Disabilities, Hendrietta Bogopane-Zulu said that the interpreter became overwhelmed and did not use normal signs.

南非妇女儿童与残障人事务部副部长亨丽埃塔·博戈帕平-祖鲁说，这名翻译承受不了压力，没有使用正常的手语。

She said Thursday there was a "clear indication" that the company that hired him has for years provided substandard services.

她星期四说，有“明显迹象”显示，聘用他的公司多年来一直在提供不符合标准的服务。

She also apologized to the deaf community, and said the issue highlights the challenges that deaf people around the world face every day in trying to communicate.

她还向广大聋人道歉，并且说这个问题凸显了世界各地的聋人在每天试图与人沟通方面所面临的挑战。