1. You’ll be able to communicate better with your partner
   If you can speak your partner’s native language, you’ll have two resources to go to when you’re trying to communicate ideas or concepts. Every language has words that don’t translate easily, or phrases that are quite useful, but awkward when stated in another language. A higher level of fluency helps here, but it’s not necessary. For instance, one of the first words I learned in German (the only language other than English that I’m fluent in) was Gemütlichkeit, which is best translated as “coziness” but contains a lot more connotations than the English word does. It’s a great word that I use all the time with other German speakers to get my point across quickly and effectively.
2. You’ll be able to move through your partner’s homeland with more ease
   While a lot of Indians speak English, particularly in cities, having knowledge of the local language, or at least Hindi, helps in pretty much every circumstance imaginable, from bargaining with the shopkeepers to discussing politics with friends. I would not be comfortable living in India if I didn’t know at least Hindi or Bengali. For Aditya’s sake, I’d like keep open the option of moving to India in the future, which means that I need to get crackin’. Plus it’d be nice when visiting India and understand what half the people around me are saying.
3. You’ll be able to talk to your partner’s family
   If your partner is from another country, it’s quite possible that some, most, or even all of the members of his or her family don’t speak much of your language. If this is the case, your best bet at facilitating communication will be to learn their language. Plus it shows you’re making an effort at good relations. A little goes a long way here: when I was asked by Aditya’s relatives at our wedding if I knew any Bengali, responding with “a little” in Bengali (ektu) got huge grins of pleasure.
4. You’ll be able to understand your partner’s culture better
   This one’s related to the first point. You know those words and phrases that are so useful, but difficult to translate? They were developed because the culture where your partner grew up needed them to explain common concepts. Think of the Indian words that have been hijacked into the English language, like karma. Those words came into being because the idea they represent were so important culturally (and in karma’s particular case, religiously). Knowing those words is a big help in figuring out how society works back in your partner’s home.
5. It’s more fair to your partner
   In any intercultural relationship (really, in any relationship at all) there’s going to be a lot of adjusting and compromising. Learning your partner’s language is one way to show her that not all the compromising is going to be done by her. That you’re willing to meet halfway on some issues. Also, if your partner isn’t that adapt at English, it can put her at a real disadvantage when you argue – you’ll be able to win just because you’re literally in better control of the terms of the argument. And we all know that isn’t fair at all. (Or fun – I prefer to win arguments because my position is the obviously superior one.)
6. It can be great for your professional life
   Look, you’re already learning a ton about your partner’s culture and homeland just by being in a relationship with him. If you add on a language, guess who’s going to be the go-to man when anything related to that country comes up at work? Obviously this reason doesn’t work for everyone, but suppose your company has an office in India, as many tech firms today do. Trust me, being able to not only chat about the latest cricket series with the developers in the Indian office, but also make rude comments in Hindi about the Australians’ ability to dish it but not take it will endear you in their hearts forever. (The above comment makes sense if you follow cricket. Really!)
7. Any future children will thank you
   As you probably know, the best time to learn a language is when your brain matter is all fresh and new- aka childhood. And children are much more likely to learn two languages growing up if they’re both spoken freely about the household by everyone. Now, you might say that you’ll have your partner teach your kids her native language even if you don’t speak it – but now your poor kid is going to have to act as a translator for you at every freakin’ family gathering. So do your future offspring a favor and learn the language too.
8. You’ll be able to share your partner’s faith better
   Again, this reason doesn’t work for everyone, but it will for some. If your partner is Israeli, and you’re thinking about converting to Judaism, you should probably consider learning Hebrew. Muslim? Arabic would be a good choice. Heck, even for me, knowing Hindi would help with understand some terminology in Hinduism (although I have absolutely no plans of studying Sanskrit).
9. You’ll be able to understand what the heck that catchy jingle is talking about
   Or what that news anchor is saying when your hotel room only carries Hindi channels and Bhutto was just assassinated. Or what the lyrics are to that sad-sounding song that your partner is always listening to. Or why he’s raving about that new, not-yet-translated book. There’s a lot of media out there that’s not in English, and you’re missing out on it. Perhaps more importantly, you’re missing out on sharing it with your partner.
10. You’ll have an awesome “secret” code you can use
    Sometimes it can be useful to have a way to communicate with your partner without having other people understand. Or sometimes it’s just really, really fun to be able to communicate with your partner without having other people understand. Right now “the code” is used against me – Aditya will have an Indian friend over, and will talk in Bengali or Hindi when he doesn’t want me to know what he’s saying. While I’m sure he’d never say anything sassy about me, I’d prefer to understand what he’s talking about. Also, I don’t have a lot of German-speaking friends to retaliate with. Gotta even the odds somehow!

Can you guys think of other good reasons to learn your partner’s native language? Obviously there’s a whole bunch of good reasons to learn a new language in general, but try to think of one’s related to intercultural relationship in particular.