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In the biblical story of the Tower of Babylon, mankind was described as “of one language, and of one speech”. However, after trying to build a city with a tower reaching the sky to challenge God’s supremacy, their “language was confounded, that they may not understand one another’s speech”. Today’s globally diverse languages are paralleled by a division of ‘languages’ in medical practice, most significantly between healthcare professionals (HCPs) who focus on ‘disease’ and ‘curing’ and those whose focus is on patient-centred care (PCC) and ‘healing’. Supportive and palliative care have, over the years, become increasingly PCC-oriented, addressing not only end-of-life but also the entire continuum of care. The evolving PCC-focused approach is integral to the bio-psycho-social model at the heart of family medicine, and to narrative-based medicine which emphasises the perspectives of patients, informal caregivers and HCPs throughout the biographical journey of personal and professional growth.