““You keep using that word. I do not think it means what you think it means.” – Inigo Montoya, ~The Princess Bride (1987)

“Symbol, Status, and Personality” by Samuel Ichiye Hayakawa might be helpful.

I discovered this book’s recommendation on language through the Twitterverse. Specifically, according to @annameierPS‘s thread (see link), the conversation stemmed from news that Dresden, the capital city of Saxony, a German state, issued a nazi emergency in their council meeting.

@annameierPS explains that the word “emergency” has a different meaning for some Germans. As a writer, I’m reminded that although we may say the exact words, often, we don’t speak the same language. Our comprehension is colored by our perception.