With a blizzard on the city's doorstep, New York City Mayor Bill de Blasio held a number of press conferences throughout Monday and Tuesday.
But despite the important message the mayor was attempting to deliver, it was hard to not notice the animated sign-language interpreter to his right.
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The man, named Jonathan Lamberton is a Certified Deaf Interpreter. He uses a hearing interpreter in the audience who listens to the the people speaking and interprets it. Lamberton then signs it back to the audience.
"With all other languages, you'll usually see the interpreters translating into their own native language," Lamberton explained to DHN, a news agency that incorporates American Sign Language (ASL) into broadcasts.
"They're translating from their second language into their first language," he said. "However, ASL is the exception. Most interpreters are translating their first language into their second language. That's why deaf interpreters can be a big benefit."
Lamberton said ASL is interpreted more clearly if you show expressions with your face and body, but his fans on social media still comment on his exaggerated movements:
De Blasio's sign language guy is incredible. You can really feel the passion.— khary randolph (@kharyrandolph) January 27, 2015
Bill De Blasio's awesome sign language translator is stealing the show right now pic.twitter.com/6HJYZUpK2n— Pixable (@pixable) January 27, 2015
This isn't the first beloved sign language interpreter for New York City mayors. Many people were upset when former mayor Michael Bloomberg showed up to a press conference in 2012 without Lydia Callis, who just days earlier, won the hearts of fans across America during a press conference for Hurricane Sandy.
