Interviewing Expert Translator Kate Lincoln Goldfinch

There are some scenes in this documentary where she is speaking a Gibberish language.. And the language that she's speaking is Carny. Hey trrue Crime Besties, welcome back to an all new episode of Serial Asleep Hello, hello, hello and welcome back to an all new episode of Serialiously with me, your host, Annie Elise. And today's Thursday, which usually would mean headline highlights where I walk you through everything happening this week in trrue crrime However I have a very special episode for you today. It's going to be a focus on one particular case slash situation rather than going into all of the different cases that we normally talk about. I also do not have Amy O'Brien with me today. so I apologize for all of you who are waiting for me to say hello to her. but Here let me break down what we're going to be talking about together today because it's something that has been I've been working on this behind the scenes for quite a few weeks now It's been very difficult to find someone who speaks this language And maybe you already know where I'm going with this based on past cases that we've covered, but let me break it down When I released my last MackKenzie Serilla episode, I truly believed that we were going to be done with that girl. that We would never talk about her again. We could leave her behind in the dust and never revisit it However, there was this like nagging feeling that I just could not shake. and I know a lot of you were wondering too, why do her and her mom speak in this secret language? Not only in some of the bodycam footage that we saw, but in the jail calls and It's, you know a sect off of pig Latin. It's carney language because her mom grew up in the Cnival circuit and taught Mackenzie the language, but like why are they speaking to each other this way? And more importantly, what the hell are they even saying So while I thought that we were leaving the cherilla of it all behind Today we are going to revisit it very briefly. And I think that this will be the last time. And the reason why is because I was able to track down someone who speaks that language fluently So you know, my nosy ass had to get in there decode these calls, translate these calls, and figure out just what the hell they were saying. So what I'm going to do is actually go through all of those old prison calls, clip out the part where they are speaking in this language, and then be joined by someone who speaks the language fluently themselves and translate everything for you. Now before we jump in, I did want to share some exciting news with you guys because it's that time of year. 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More content, more access, and no app sounds pretty good, right? So go sign up. It's ending soon. You're welcome. Now after listening to over one hundred jail calls between Mackenzie and her friends and her mom and you know, all of the people, two things really stuck out to me One, Mackenzie is always irritated, just always on ninety nine level of like spoiled brat mode. And two, when Mackenzie talks with her mom, she does almost every single time start talking in code G looks lowest for maybe this draw See if you can get our video calls, move to the other terminals., video call and commissary now she's banging out the door, like, girl, you just goty here You just got here shut the fuck up How old is you? I don't know. probablyrobably oldest fook, like everyone else in here. that Seeo We it be the time we really the. I was like asking her, like I was like, why are you in here? She's like, lot do you crack Like what U Oh my gosh, that' the effort courort. when if we were sitting there waiting A guy came out with his client Right the lawyer came out with his client and he goes, manan, you just did me thirty. You know what you were doing? You just did me thirdty and And he goes, I just saved your life. Like I literally just saved your life. Right? And he goes, you know what you did. I don't even want to get into it. And his where was like, well you cant you can't smoke crack. You can't sell crack. And he's like, you don't care, you don't know me and you don't career you do that retiest book, L she doesn't look like it Maybe they j up early I found out you know like crackaine I know that'. Yes. so I'm What D I did crraack before H I don't like that. I always look like I would never do crack. I never did crack No, That's crazy I don't like that razy But it's like you have to smoke it like in a pipe for it to be. I know. rightight But like why? What's the difference Why is it a different name if it is what it is? Because it's like hard and soft. Aarently I was asking her about it. and then she told me like, because like she like burnt like she had a hole in her nose because of the proble Nording too much Oh my God here for all She's prettyti as fook though. She's likety forty three or something like that. She's so pretty. L I like her. Oh I hope she gets p. So like I said, the language that they're speaking is called Carney. and I'm not saying that to be disrespectful or anything like that because I have seen a lot of people say that it's pig Latin and it's this and that It's a version of that, but technically it is called the Carney language, which is short for Carnival. So first what I did is I checked the case files to see if any of the investigators had any of these calls translated But all I could find was a single photo So then I scoured the internet Started making some calls, talking to, you know, Carnival workers, Irish travelers I don't want to say the G word, but maybe you know what I'm talking about. And when I started looking into it further, I did come across a couple of social media posts that suggested that Mackenzie and her family were a part of The Gypsy culture Now is that tot totally politically correct? Maybe not. I I've had mixed things slide in my DM, but I'm just relaying to you what it is being called out there. So if there's a better term I can use, absolutely, feel free to educate me on that But I went back into the files and I want you to listen to this clip that I found.'m irrated that my to learn What was she saying about a Gky where like they wear the big ass dresses and like you have to get married by like fifteen and shit. She thought we was that Oh my goodness. And I was like, no, we're like we're like the dancing l inoga right. Yes, we're like that. like like CeV N next just sound like CeV NX I don't know what that is. I don't think they know what that is either Everybody knows Stevie Nicks is like a really famous singer who dresses him like a gypsy. We're just the theatrical musical type you that? Yeah, we're not like this. Yeah, because she wass like, I could tell. I was like, I was like, you know what I'm saying? I was like, oh, no. And then she was like no She wass like, no, I just could tell you fuckish shit. And I was like, I'm dead as fuuck. Like like gypsies, musicians and actors I I'm sorry, actors, musicians and theater thatwhere. I feel like all gifts are just like creative too Right. Now I don't know anybody on the planet who personally doesn't know who Stevie Nicks is, but that's okay So anyway, now that we have connected the dots between the Serillas and the Carney talkalk It's time to translate the calls. So like I said, in my quest to find the most accurate Carney translator, I found somebody even better And her name is Kate Lincoln Goldfinch. Now Kate is not only fluent in Carney, but she is also an attorney who can help answer some questions that I personally have had about these phone calls So with that, we are going to get into this interview with Kate My name's Kate Lincoln Golfinch and I'm actually an immigration lawyer. I'm based in Texas and for the last twenty years, I have been working with immigrant families in Texas. So I bring families together, keep them together, work on helpeling people get visas green card citizenship and then of course, recently have done a lot of detained work. I have a ton of clients who are in detention And I file federal lawsuits to get them out. So now that you've met Kate, if you're anything like me, you probably need the answer to one of the hard hitting questions, which is, how the heck did she even learn to speak Carney? I recently learned that I spoke an actual language called Carney. All I knew for twenty years is that best friend taught me a language that her mom and her aunt used to speak And when I was, you know, in my early twenties, she taught me this language and we used it to, you know, talk about things that were private in public And over the years, we've just always we'll revert to this language when we're on the phone and like our husbands are around or whatever. We just have this secret language And then it came to my attention about a year ago that there's actually a Cnney language that the people who work in carnivals, I guess this is how it began develop this language and it's like it's like a type of pig Latin, you know, which is just add a sound before a vowel And so I learned that I did Carney and I did a little video on findinding out that I spoke Carney and really didn't think anything of it and that video started picking up steam. when this documentary came out about MackKenzie Sarella, and so people are all of a sudden talking about Carneie again because it's what she speaks with her mom in some of her jailhouse calls. So I wanted to pick Kate's brain a little bit about MackKenzie's call and figure out why she's choosing to use this secret language with her mom in so many of these jail calls. And here's what she had to say. MackKenzie uses the language in her jailhouse calls is really kind of silly because the way that she uses it is to talk about people who are annoying her. She's talking about people who are you know, in her like cell block area or she's talking she talks about a certain guard who really annoys her. and so she's basically gossiping about people. and just switching to the language. It's clear that like probably she's just in the habit of switching to the language when she's gossiping about people She's not discussing anything about her case. She's not revealing any details. I think that would also be rather foolish because it's so easy to depher this particular language. but I don't know. I mean, I don't know if she had the expectation that people that the guards would be listening to these calls, which very much may be the case. I mean, generally every jailhouse phone call is recorded And who has access to the recordings can really differ, whether it's going to be the investigators or the prosecutors or the guards, you know, that's going to be different at every facility. And so peoplee who are detained unless they are on a privileged confidential call with a lawyer, which you have to schedule differently should be under notice that their calls are being recorded and could be listened to by anyone including the people who are trying to go after them. So now that we have a little bit of background information, let's jump right into the calls. And I think the easiest way to do this and to follow along is for me to play the clip And then as soon as that clip finishes, we're gonna to cut back to Kate translating.. Hey call on ace in the c Uhu this a again as we f guys draw you a little hard so y'all can see that I love y'all but I couldn't like And don't worry Okay good. I love you guys so much. Like tellell everyone I said I love them and thank them for coming to court are come into they I I know I need to tell you something though okay so usually need to te a' be this p resign be the me me a chez or sz or. Is that where you've been Jesus. Oh And she said that's probably the best possible place you can be Raman She said I only get one call and I gott to go in my room I wouldt have finish this call. if you give me another one I' got you that eat, ora freez, weat cheese all and cheese that eat U. is un s is thiser this this is the kid meeting is the k meeting is like we look is the fizer with like in the site forars Is is' isa with it is and isa actually kido is' actually this kido Okay, okay. Is I' skz there. Do you need it to do kez all these to do off these szor Honey, I can't make it you're an adult. can't you know, you know k's in. do hestr you You defeat that you do All right Okay Oh is on that floor. I mean, I was like I was I there mom that third the juvenile facility when think M Yeah. He just came here the other day I't called me. ter. what would you say m who called me for you.o called Pleasey he did Everybody's thinking about you spehing up and safe f Oh I just said, Oh my God, you're so sweet. I love you so much S that's so nice. She yeah, I got to go. You just tell her that everybody Everybody's thinking about her and they strong and we love her She said, so you need to call this place right now because they put me on the psych Ward floor. Not the most damning translation, obviously, but still, is it just that they spok in this language so regularly that it just comes out that way? Sometimes when people even speak foreign languages Sometimes, you know, what's that term like Sp English when it goes from English to Spanish, and it's just easy, possibly Here's the next clip Starting something new is exciting, but also terrifying. 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Do you know my jit number? by Jeded number. becausecause I'm writing an agreem Well, you can't why, don't Okay fine, I'm not going to, but I'm irritated tooook. I know. I didn't d that Don't do it. me let me talk to them again because or talk to somebody else, not her Okay, then just wait until tomorr And And you really need to set a video visitation like right now It's coming. I can't. I can't even get in there yet Munday my login and stuff. You don't have any video calls yet, right? No, but one other girl has two and I'm looking at them and I want I want video call I know you do. We have to wait. It's pending. Okay, but leave theull life I thing alone. All. I'm really annoy. So please call again. I will, But you got to just just chill Yeah, yeah, but like o, and foundound C Gabs. I made a little order for myself like kindabs get underwear addit you pickles Marsa Bangs because I like them G. But I already got rid of my pen. we kind of both added All right Okay W me, I'm on a phone call right now. I don't want to blow my whole hour first thing on is all ar in, pleasease. I'll follow up like right after I get off h you I will follow up. I'll have Daddy go do it in person. Okay. All please I dont have an hour to talk to you. I love you so much M. I love you. I love you by. I love you. Bye. Bye. I love you. Love you love you The caller has hung up I'm so mad right now. this bit she pisses me the fuck off It the seu was under this don' they don' h res I asked her for the forum and she was like, you are not getting one that is within the usually don up You are not, you're not getting a form. I don't give up bucks. I don't care if your mom talked to the sheriff or what He here this be on You are not getting one. I'm not giving you the form Here she obviously sounded a little more aggressive. Maybe she's trying to mask that she feels entitled, bratty, angry, I don't know, all of the above defefinitely seems more irritated. Let's roll into the next one You're weired out by all your messaging Yeah, that's weird Cynthia and Ms Kent are going to come and visit you as soon as soon as they can. Charlie, He wanted me to tell you. Yep. And she said, You tell my little Sirabuga, I know You did not do what everybody is saying. She said, I got to meet the real I got to meet her. I know who she is Why should she doing it He's blowing me like imagine being D like. She's wez that we like like, he'smedior's a ky, he's or he's al. She's like, she's like shut, that's like a Oh my God Stacey said me, Hyishia Hager, I love you. you understand No why you talk about If we didn't know each other a long time, but I'm glad we did. I got the chance to know you. I know you're going through a lot. So I'll give you my number when you're ready to call me hold on should them Why are you not messaging me Mom I go in order Okay We never get searched here too, which kind of weirds me to fuck out because I'm used to getting searched Yeah it's kind of weird Yeah Yes, me you. Right She said do you me send you old letter or wait either hold to them if you want to wait I' very sorry for going to through what you're going through. I know you're probably scared and that is normal I was too not knowing what was ahead for me going to do. I promise I'll be here for I'm glad I got to meet your family. They made me so comfortable around them more than my family does the two times I've been around them since my son passed Go take your mom later and ask to ask your lawyer if I can write you a character letter. M. I love to make you grow. keepeep your head up and stay strong It's such a like American horror story. So once again, not the kindest remarks, but not necessarily like she's trying to speak in code to cover something up or to quiet some of the information about the case or possibly even lie about something. It's more almost as though she's trying to mask what I believe to be her true personality, which is like entitled bitch through and through Let me play the next one Oh good Hmburger because you're eating I should possible My not dad could want to on way home time What else did you give you in Boy Yeah, I have noodles juice. I have like heicamer now. Hell on noodle juice Ca noodles. ll a lot of noodles and gin. That was like the name of the juice Okay good different eas then we l What do you mean B metal. that. She did she's e's offer, she's unusing. cheesees likeese cheesing really cheesese and freez somees cheese' like,z cheesies or che cheesing So we like cheese ord easy. Yeah. Is it don't know N years's maybe vis the visa is out Right . yout. This is my phone call. I'm not no, I'm not doing that. Yeah I' just is there really Shes' she talksesis. Sheily's like he's always he's f.'s talking's andsily's like he'sing he's here, like kn's out's you just happy that And it's not even up to you anyway, because is the person you're on the phone with. Oh, and make sure Sammy blocked on all my social media, please. I did You' her anyway. No, she't even out there. Well on Snapchat and ste in TikTok Oh that I got a check Okay because that's weird f and make sure I don't You seem to make like a list of people that like need to be like like washed and blocked like that are like weird as f. And like if any of my friends that are supposedly like ride or die for are with them Mhm. That's true What did the you get from the ice cream truck, the ice cream sandwich? You got it This feel silly Oh Oh, reallys me today. It's me the firstirdday tomorrow So and then Daddy's not here, so they're actually going to come over Friday. You have one h left that they love you so much And there would be till the end every day, every day I have weird feelings about them right now call you back again if I can, Are you still working? Well, can we try and do our seven thirty What time is it? seven twenty four Oh C call me again and they'll just hang up and try and do our seven thir. Oh no, it says this terminal will be stopped in one minute. Please finish your use. So I'm about to get on and see if I can get on the call with you Okay, I'm gonna do. She said she's talking about her eight She's fifty or she's forty compy theily f to d of the lated Skate has her whole butt out every day would your own It' a ph call. that in fge pclic Every time she comes over here we. not getting any machine it get machine. She thinks I'm talking about something important ing of it. But I may whle of that one again inuction oppity need that uc it's just because . Something about okay, this gal is coming over and wants to know what she's talking about and she's saying something like I got you. I mean, the sense I'm getting is that this is like Someone in her cell block that acts very bizarre and is coming over in is asking MackKenzie for something. How on the phone Social swet here. It is I' I get there anyway. I got it let me look at this whole thing again. How I noodle j. to know. I got it. Ch good bit of people we operating indndes. we look Ies ision of a travel What you need C toment on C shoes oes are offer sheo's'm moving. She' shesing.'s likeing fusy's'tting So exed. C. its Okay, this is about a girl who's walking over to her sleezily, I think she says she says she's off. somethingomet she's off or something. She's like fifty or forty She wears me to fuck out. H butt is out and everything phone call.m these areusist. Every time she comes over here, she's like, and I didn't kiss a love her 's always She thinks I'm talking about something important T me know, we're talking about I've got you and I'm like no b I that'. So there you heard another clip. Now again, these aren't like damning things where they were speaking in code and trying to talk about the case or dropping a bombshell relating to the case But still, I was curious enough about this language. I know many of you have been as well. You've been DMing me, I've seen it on social media. So because I love you guys and I'm your true cimeestie, I had to go the extra mile, get these calls translated and let you know what the heck she was saying. And if there's anything else you want me to have translated by Kate, just feel free to let me know. I thought that the jail calls were, you know that was a good place to start. Let me know what you think. Let me know what you think it means. If it means anything, if she was trying to mask her troue personality and that's why she was speaking in code language or what m curious to know your thoughts. All right guys, thank you so much for tuning into another episode with me today. Until the next one, You know the drill. The thanizertising is in D'tizerisit to zoo. L' likeis the scw ey Be nice, donon't kill people. And let's be done with Mackenzie Shherlla once and for all.