Partners in Crime

First published: 10^th August 2017

I was shocked to read in today's Computerworld that the Cyberport and Hong Kong University are plotting financial technology crime together.

The headline read, "Cyberport and HKU to jointly forge fintech ecosystem". "Fintech" is a recent addition to English that means computer programs and other technology used to support or enable banking and financial services. The problem comes with the use of "forge". Forge is a verb with several meanings:

1. to form (metal) by heating and hammering
2. fashion, shape (forge an agreement)
3. to make or imitate falsely esp. with intent to defraud (forge a signature)
4. to move ahead steadily but gradually

From the body of the article, it is clear that the writer intended the second meaning; the Cyberport and HKU are shaping a financial technology ecosystem. However, the headline juxtaposes forge and financial, suggesting the third meaning; making a false copy with intent to defraud. Alternatives to "forge" that avoid this misinterpretation include make, form, and construct, or more flamboyantly; frame, weave, carve or sculp could be used.