Knowledge

News

Bankspeak of the Year competition

26 November 2002

Readers may have noticed some of the new terminology emanating from the Bank. Examples include references to “intermezzos” (to describe short narrative passages in dense reports) and a “charrette” (to describe an IFC conference on human rights).

Our next issue of the Bretton Woods Update will feature ‘Bankspeak of the year’ – the most opaque or incomprehensible use of words in a Bank document or speech. Suggestions from readers are very welcome.