Language is the foundation of our shared understanding, yet in today's polarized landscape, even the most common words can take on vastly different meanings depending on one's political leanings. Divergent interpretations of terminology have contributed to growing ideological divides but there are strategies we can employ to promote mutual comprehension across partisan boundaries. Jacob Hess from Deseret News emphasizes how understanding the ways contrasting language usage manifests in our daily interactions and civic rituals may hold invaluable lessons for cultivating greater empathy and bridging the gulfs that separate us.