How to Speak Money

“The Language of Money”

Language is a tool of communication in all areas of life. The practitioners in various professions generally use their inside language for the sake of accuracy and efficiency. For instance, most people do not need or want to know why a plumber chooses one tool over another to fix a leaky faucet. But people can also use jargon, or specialized terms, intentionally to exclude outsiders from conversations. Sometimes experts in certain industries want to protect their status by using their own lingo. But words and phrases also can entrench a particular worldview. For instance, they can organize society according to economic beliefs, such as “wealth trickles down.” Trusting in experts makes life easier for most people, until disaster strikes. If a widespread sewer failure occurred, everyone would need to learn plumbing terms. The 2008 financial crisis rained calamity on the general public. Now, those who learn the language of money can help protect themselves in the future by participating in dialogues and forming their own opinions. People need greater knowledge about the economy and the financial system to “make informed democratic decisions” and...