Language Influences Thought

English is a Germanic language, so yes, those are very closely related.

My formal studies include Spanish (close), Russian (not close), and Japanese (distant). Each of the languages invites a different worldview. Whenever I study a language, I create a native speaker of it in my mind. Sometimes it even happens with languages I just barely brush against; there's a Georgian in my mind, who got into a terrific catfight with the Russian back when the Soviet Union invaded Georgia. So I definitely notice ways in which other languages influence my awareness. Happens with constructed languages too: LAadan, Seshaa from my Whispering Sands desert, Torn Tongue.

I really like that flexibility. It prevents people from boxing me in.

One of the most dramatic shifts is what the language requires you to pay attention to and specify. In English, you must specify a gender for people; it's awkward to avoid doing that. In Japanese it's social rank and politeness level. Some languages have evidence markers that require you to specify how you know the things you're saying. Some languages require a lot of detail in the verbs -- how often something happens, and other contextual details. Going from a language that doesn't do X to one that requires X will darn well make you a lot more aware of X.

*bow, flourish* Happy to be of service.

Some things I've found helpful:

* A name in the new language. If I'm studying on purpose, this is essential.

* Studying vocabulary without translating, but working directly with the word-concepts.
http://ysabetwordsmith.livejournal.com/418677.html

* Listening to large amounts of the new language in the background. Play a radio, put alternate soundtracks on the television, run a language tape at night while sleeping, etc.