The rich language of bribery and corruption
One of the joys for me as someone who loves words is to learn the words uses in different countries and cultures to avoid using the harsh words bribery and corruption. These partners in crime are dressed up in all sorts of ways and the image above sets out a few drawn from what one might call East End villainy through Latin America and Southern Europe, into the Arab world before ending our journey in the Philippines.
It's pretty evident from all these words that the concept of bribery and corruption is closely allied to the idea of sustenance - why else would references to food and drink and related topics so dominate?
From a little "Sweetener" or a "Sniff " in England through beverages like Soda and Chai in Africa and Asia to the concept of a treat, perhaps food in the Spanish word Regalo.
The Filipino love of food is particularly evident in their rich vocabulary of Tagalog words for bribery which might lead us to believe that "sustenance" may provided at breakfast, lunch and dinner time!
I regularly lecture and develop training on fraud and corruption issues and on investigations. If you wan't to hear more of my extensive vocabulary - give me a call.