So in a world with just 2 languages, for example, English and Spanish, and assuming there is only one person speaking each language and the other person doesn’t know how to speak your language, how did people at the beginning of civilization learn and teach a language since no one knows the other language?
I think you can learn the vocabulary by pointing to an object and saying the word but what about the grammar and special rules? I would assume this is because the ancient languages are simple, right?
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Learning languages is something humans can actually do quite well, our brains are wired for it. However, it takes immersion to basically force your internal monologue/brain to start shifting to trying to use another language.
When you have no CHOICE but to learn another language for things like food, water, shelter, assitance…you very quickly learn how to communicate.
Further, the case you have of there 1 person per language doesn’t work as that’s never been a thing. Language didn’t just pop out of thin air, it was a natural evoulation over a LOOONNG time from grunts and pointing to actual words.
Regarding grammar, practice. Humans are natural pattern observers/matchers (hence why things like steretypes are so important despite people always trying to say not to believe them) and when immersed, you pick up the patterns over time.
In an age where most learning is done via a book and a teacher and classroom, it’s a hard cioncept to understand, having that immediate NEED and URGENCY to learn this NOW.
When you have that urge…learning goes much faster than highschool language classes would imply.
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