Polish language: Poles apart

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Polish language: Poles apart

It’s the lot of a Euromoney journalist to speak to finance professionals across the globe. We think we cope with language barriers pretty well in the most part, but occasionally we have to admit to getting it very wrong, as the following recent phone conversation shows:

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Euromoney: Hello, good morning, please could I speak to Biuro?

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Polish Central Bank: Who?

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Euromoney: A Mr Biuro Prasowe, B – I – U – R – O...

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Polish Central Bank: You are speaking with the press office at the Polish Central Bank.

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Euromoney: Yes, and I have had an email from Mr Biuro so I wanted to call him back.

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Polish Central Bank: This press office has more than one person working in it.

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Euromoney: Yes, but I have emails from Biuro Prasowe and so wanted to speak with him please...

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Polish Central Bank [laughs]: You do realize that Biuro means office in Polish... Biuro Prasowe means Press Office!

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