AIX-EN-PROVENCE, FRANCE — Language is far more than a means to communicate — it’s inextricably tied to culture. It serves as the basis for human interaction as well as a repository for information. English has been called the “language of business.” There’s no doubt the seeds of English have been sewn across the globe — whether through trade or by the proverbial sword — to where it has become the de facto language of international interaction. English was first successful through British colonialism (which supplanted French dominance) and continued to prevail through America’s influence as a global power.Sitting in my seat on the tarmac at Philadelphia’s airport, I witnessed first hand the ubiquity of the English language.In the packed airplane cabin, there were the usual soft murmurings among passengers. But my neighbor, who appeared to be foreign, and I sat silently. I was going to sit next to this person for six hours, so I figured I should at least say “Hello.”Trying to strike up conversation in English seemed like a presumptuous move. Assuming she spoke English, I thought, would be a stereotypically rude American attitude. Because I had no way of knowing how to communicate with her, I just smiled.The tension was finally eased when the woman called over the stewardess to ask her a question — in English. After receiving clear grounds to converse, we spent the ensuing hours discussing a range of topics. One conversation concerned the issue I contemplated on the ground in Philly: the use of English in international settings.After complimenting her on her English, I explained I was nervous about living and studying in France.  ”The French don’t like to speak English,” she said. She wasn’t just empathizing with my own mounting situation, but offering a genuine analysis of her own condition. Traveling in a country that doesn’t speak English — or frowns upon it — poses a practical problem for her as well.It’s not a stretch to assume you’ll be able to communicate in English when traveling in Europe. Almost 40 percent of European Union residents speak English in addition to their native tongue (13 percent also speak it natively), according to the European Commission.Compare that to the 94 percent of Americans who speak English only, according to the National Census Bureau.Now before the finger-wagging begins at America’s lack of language diversity and apparent disinterest in connecting with other cultures, it’s important to recognize there is a motivation deficit in Americans when it comes to learning another language. There may be a greater influence of Spanish because of the increasing number of Mexican immigrants. And it would be a good idea to learn Chinese if you want to go into business or Arabic if you’re into international relations.But the bottom line is that as things stand now, we Americans can travel to practically any country and get by on English alone.Knowing this, it becomes clear why Americans largely fail to grasp other languages.We would all love to do something if we had more time — whether it’s read the entire Constitution or go fishing. Unfortunately, there are only a certain number of hours in the day, and some of those have to be spent obtaining shelter and food. How we spend our time is directed by a fundamental economic proposition of time allocation by which we seek to maximize our utility.Americans’ decision to avoid learning another language is a logical evaluation. Non-native English speakers receive greater benefit from learning English — through both cultural and practical means. For English speakers, gaining a second language will increase cultural horizons, but it seems the practical benefit is far less than it is for our non-English speaking counterparts given the language’s wide influence (unless holding a job of an international nature).It’s unfortunate Americans face such a difficult circumstance because of the reach of their native tongue. As long as English is the dominant world language of interaction, it seems improbable that English speakers will be able to compete with the willingness of other modern countries’ citizens to learn a second language.While learning another language seems to be unimportant to Americans, perhaps a greater appreciation of the benefits of bilingualism would lead to a greater number of people seeking another language. Though another language won’t have the universal benefits of English, there is something to be said about the introspection allowed through interacting with another culture through language.But taking up a new language makes it impossible for one to understand the benefits it will have outside the context of practical communication. I hope we can find a way to encourage learning a new language — so it’s cultural benefits can be reaped — by looking past its practical value, or lack thereof.—-Contact Mark Macmurdo at [email protected]