The Durban University of Technology (DUT) Celebratory Autumn Graduation Ceremonies are underway at the Inkosi Albert Luthuli Durban International Convention Centre (ICC) in Durban from Monday, 11 July 2022 until Wednesday, 20 July 2022. For the past 13 ceremonies to date, there has been beautiful expressions of triumphant graduates making their way to the stage to be part of the ‘pomp and fair’, not also forgetting the mammoth planning that goes into making these ceremonies as prestigious and memorable for both graduates and parents.
The ceremonies also require the support of many support services and staff and one aspect that forms an integral part of graduation is the sign language interpreters.
Sign language interpreters work between a sign language and a spoken language, which helps two distinctive audiences: those who use spoken language and those who use sign language.
Pinky Zulu and Fezeka Zeka share more on their role as the designated sign language interpreters for the DUT Celebratory Autumn Graduation Ceremonies and how exciting it is for them to be able to express the excitement of each day to the hearing impaired who are graduating in different faculties.
Interpreter Zulu has completed her Diploma in Translation and Interpretation Practice at the Durban University of Technology (DUT) in 2021 and will be graduating next week. This year, (2022), she is furthering her studies in her Advanced Diploma in Language Practice.
“I studied sign language in Primary School, and my love to study sign language became a further goal to achieve and was fulfilled when I came across this course at DUT and decided to enrol,” she said.
When asked on her feelings when she is standing on the podium and relaying the spoken words and interpreting it into sign language, Zulu said it is a huge honour.
However, both Zulu and Zeka did express that when PhD and Master dissertations are being read, the scientific words can sometimes be difficult to comprehend and interpret but they do manage to ensure they give the context of what is being said.
“All in all, I feel so happy seeing the parents enjoying this auspicious moment at the graduation, I also revel in the moments tremendously but I have to remain professional while I am doing my work on stage,” she said.
Zulu’s achievements also extend to her being appointed by DUT’s Department of Media Language and Communication to be their tutor for the South African sign language from 2021 until 2022.
For interpreter Zeka, she just completed her National Diploma in Fine Arts at DUT this semester and looks forward to graduating next year.
Zeka, who is hard of hearing, grew up with sign language which is her home language and also comes from a household of hearing impaired. She began doing sign language interpretation at DUT from 2019, and was also roped in by Zulu and started assisting her at graduation.
Prior to graduation, she has been helping out with translations and interpreting at DUT events and is currently helping a first-year Deaf student with translation in his Fine Arts course, working as his interpreter.
“I am happy to interpret at graduation as I know many of the hearing-impaired students and they are happy to see me too,” she said.
Pictured: DUT interpreters, Pinky Zulu and Fezeka Zeka.
Waheeda Peters
