The more languages I learn, the more mixed up words seem to become.

At least, that’s how it feels.

I speak Swiss German, German, Dutch and English.

I also know some French, a little Thai, and every day I add a little more Japanese.

I enjoy learning languages.

Each one has opened another window onto the world.

But I’ve also noticed something unexpected.

Sometimes my brain seems to search through every language except the one I’m trying to speak.

I know the word.

I know exactly what I want to say.

But first a Dutch word appears.

Then perhaps a German one.

Occasionally even Japanese comes to mind before English.

It’s as if all my languages have become connected, and my brain is trying to decide which path to take.

I’m not complaining.

It’s actually rather fascinating.

I’ve read that speaking multiple languages may help keep the brain healthy as we grow older.

Whether that’s true or not, I don’t know.

What I do know is that learning another language doesn’t simply add another vocabulary.

It changes the way I search for words altogether.

Sometimes that search is wonderfully efficient.

Sometimes it feels like standing in a library where every book is open at once.