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Explore how phrases like "beans for the kids," "a glass of wine," and "little carps" reveal the language of corruption worldwide. From cash for soup in Turkey to tea for the elders in Kenya, uncover the euphemisms used for bribes in different countries. Discover the similarities and differences in corrupt practices as experts illustrate examples from around the world.
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Stinking fish and small coffees - the language of corruption around the world What do "beans for the kids" in Kinshasa, "a glass of wine" in Paris, and "little carps" in Prague have in common? The phrases tell you something about local cuisine - but they are also euphemisms for bribes. The language of corruption differs from one country to the next, but there are also striking similarities, as David Henig (University of Kent) and Nicolette Makovicky (University of Oxford) illustrate in the following examples. 1. Cash for soup (Turkish)If you are stopped by traffic police in North Africa the officer may well ask you to sponsor his next cup of "kahwe", or coffee. In Kenya you might be stopped by traffic policemen and asked to contribute to "tea for the elders" ("chai ya wazee" in Swahili). But in Turkey, the police would rather you give them "cash for soup" ("chorba parasi") - soup is traditionally eaten at the end of a night of heavy drinking.