David Behling recently wrote a column in the Tribune that made the case for studying languages. Behling nicely outlined our reluctance to learn languages and the raw practicality of multilingualism. Today I’m going to take a look at the uniquely human dimensions of languages and the ways that we build our lives and society through language.

Schools are slashing the few language programs that they teach. The New York Times recently reported that in the past decade, the number of schools offering French programs has dropped by 18 percent, and German programs have been cut by 10 percent. We’ve seen a gain in Chinese instruction, from 1 percent to 4 percent of schools, but that is due to funding from the Chinese government.

As Behling noted, we often overlook the value of learning multiple languages. It’s easy to grow up in the United States without ever needing to speak another language. It’s possible to travel the world while speaking only English. Students around the world begin studying English at a very early age and become quite proficient. I have met young people who speak English as a second language who have a bigger vocabulary than me. It’s a humbling experience to learn a new English word from a 17-year-old German kid. If it’s entirely practical to only speak English, why should we go to the trouble of learning new languages? It’s only so much fun to sit in a Mexican restaurant and hack your way through ordering in Spanish before pointing to No. 15 on the menu.

I think it helps to take a broader look at the roles of language. Speaking another language isn’t just learning different words; it’s a new way of thinking, structuring beliefs and seeing the world. The line between thought and language is anything but clear; we’re hard-wired to learn language and think in language. We don’t translate thoughts to words, we think in words.

There’s a Danish word that helps illustrate this idea. “Hygge” translates to “cozy” or “comfortable,” but it can apply to anything from a quiet afternoon with your family to a night of partying with your friends. People wish each other “hygge” when they say goodbye or talk about past times.

In this cold and dark part of the world, it’s an entirely appropriate and useful word. Just like the Eskimo are thought to have dozens of words for snow, the Danes have several words for candles. I have a friend who speaks French and Norwegian. She said that she talks about entirely different things in each language. In Norwegian, she talks about the weather and food, but while speaking French, she discusses feelings, ideas and dreams. I can only imagine what Australian people are saying.

I’d argue that we’d all be better off if we took the time to jump into these different world views. It’s nothing short of a transformative experience. I’m fascinated by the cognitive layers of languages, but I think it’s also important to look at language in the context of our country and culture. Languages form the foundations of cultures, nations, and imagined communities. Just as the French build their identities through their language and history, Minnesotans have a distinct dialect and cuisine (if you can call it that). Language and culture build group cohesion, but in doing so, they provide the tools for exclusion.

The United States boasts a tremendous diverse population, but we’ve also got an eerily homogenous dominant culture. When you meet people from Oregon or Virginia, there’s a good chance that they watch the same TV shows and read the same newspaper stories as you. It’s a little spooky sometimes. But there are millions of people who do not speak like most Americans or have the same sets of beliefs and values. There are over a million speakers of Tagalog — a language originating in the Philippines — in the United States, but I couldn’t tell you a thing about that language!

If you’ve never been an outsider in a new culture, it’s hard to understand the dimensions of respect and authority that language carries. If someone takes the time to learn your language, or even a few words of it, it can be a huge show of respect.

There is a large population of Ojibwa people around Bemidji. Many of them live in deep poverty and alcoholism and violence are rampant. Bemidji retailers recently made a unique gesture to this population by posting signs and menus in the Ojibwe language. Shoppers enter stores through doors that say welcome in English and Ojibwe. Put yourself in the shoes of a poor Ojibwe boy who enters a store in Bemidji. The signs are a simple but profound way of saying “you’re legit.”

The United States has a disproportionately large influence on the organizations, industries and conflicts that define life around the world in 2010. But we’re not the only game in town. Our future will depend on our ability to collaborate with an increasingly diverse population. Could multilingual citizens, soldiers and diplomats help calm our conflicts around the world? I have to believe that they would.

Imagine if all of our students learned another language or two. They would gain access to relationships and cultural knowledge that would be immeasurably valuable. I’d love to shatter the statistic that only 25 percent of Americans have a passport. Research shows that people learn languages best in their younger years, especially under the age of 15. Let’s not sell our children short.

Ben Matheson is an Albert Lea native now living in Minneapolis. He recently graduated from Luther College.