Dramatic NYC-style expressions make NY mayor's sign language interpreter at hurricane press conferences an internet hit

[Jenna]

Mayor Michael Bloomberg's sign-language interpreter Lydia Callis became a star overnight on Monday when she injected some unintentional humor into news of a 13-foot surge, cut power lines and flooded substations.

"Is anyone else watching the hilarious facial expressions of the sign language translator during Bloomberg's press conference?" Adam Moore, president ofMoore Creative Living in NYC, wrote on Facebook. "Hilarious!"

Moore told iDigitalTimes that he "loved the fact that she was gesturing like a New Yorker."

Bloomberg Sign-Language Interpreter Finds Fans Through Dramatic Gestures [video] - International Digital Times

[Jenna]

[Ducky]

I need to learn sign language, because she looks like she is saying way more interesting things than the other guys.

[Buttercup]

[Jenna]

Interesting explanation of how the facial expressions work:

In American Sign Language, certain mouth and eye movements serve as adjectival or adverbial modifiers.



In this example, Bloomberg is explaining that things will get back to normal little by little. Callis is making the sign INCREASE, but her tight mouth and squinting eyes modify the verb to mean "increase in tiny increments." This facial expression can attach to various verbs to change their meaning to "a little bit."


Here, Bloomberg is urging people not to put out their garbage for collection because it will end up making a mess on the streets. Callis is making a sign for SPILL, while at the same time making what is known as the 'th' mouth adverbial. This mouth position modifies the verb to mean "sloppily done." If you attach it to WALK, WRITE, or DRIVE, it means "walk sloppily," "write messily," or "drive carelessly."

Why Great Sign Language Interpreters Are So Animated - Arika Okrent - The Atlantic