In the far reaches of the world there are those who are different than us. They possess a difference that is most intriguing. That difference I speak of is language. The ability to communicate through different means is alluring and mystifying. Underneath the mystery there is a deep desire to understand one another and make sense of the sounds effortlessly flowing from their lips.

For generations the people dwelling across the sea, to the north, south and far east maintain the ability to speak various languages, English being only one.

I would like to speculate that Americans, on the other hand, have a difficulty of melding with the rest of the world. We are experiencing a seriously unhealthy case of arrogance, self worth and laziness. An idea hovers in the air like a sickness saying that others should conform to our needs. Americans don’t need to learn other languages because others will learn ours, then all of our problems will be solved.

The United States Census Bureau reports that 80 percent of Americans speak only in English. The information was gathered in 2007 and issued in the April 2010 edition. From a general outlook, it would appear that differing languages are all but diminished, reaffirming that there is a serious need for education in other languages.

Not to point fingers or cover institutions with shadows of doubt, but we fall short in our educational systems. Languages are not made more of a dominant part of our culture, especially in the up and coming youngsters. We limit ourselves severely as individuals and as a nation by not partaking of the cultures of the lands that surround us through language.

Are we not to cultivate exchanges between the others of this world not of English speaking descent? Our past, present and future depend on our capabilities to communicate. Then, I believe it is our laziness to which we can give our gratitude for English being our world’s prominent language. But does that make us a more dominant culture? Hardly. In fact, it makes us weak. With our inability to speak French, Russian, Italian, Chinese, or even Spanish, it makes us uncultured to the extreme.

Even though America is a melting pot of different ethnicities and distinctly contrasting languages are spoken, we are not cultured. The majority of those who reside within the borders of this nation and raised only knowing English are at a significant disadvantage. That is especially true when traveling abroad. It is perfectly acceptable to not know every single language known to man; however, it is not acceptable to be uncultured in the world you live in.

There are more than 6,000 languages spoken around the world today. With such a plethora to choose from, there is no excuse for a lack of variety. Learning a new language brings great joy and many benefits, even if it is just one language. Deciding upon a culture to take from and gain from is priceless. Being able to translate sounds into meaning is immensely valuable from a cultural standpoint.

The way our world is becoming increasingly interconnected, it is also becoming increasingly complex. As years pass and countries become more intertwined in trade and commerce the need to break the language barrier is of the upmost importance. Understanding is key, so we are not well served by relinquishing to the dominant language.

We are all humans of this world and we must find a way to share in the wonders that we have created, the wondrous culture that needs to be spread around and learned and enjoyed. It was not meant to be held in isolation and learning a new language can go as far as desire will take you.

In the future, being able to be knowledgeable about a language will be a hot commodity in the job market and in everyday life. Hopefully it will soon be more of a requirement to be fluent in at least one foreign language. That should put America higher on the culturally diverse totem pole, in all aspects of the words culturally and diverse.