How did the first ppl work out what words mean in diff languages? I can understand tree but what about if, why

Answer 1

I don't know, but perhaps they exchanged children.

A child can learn the foreign language. He is returned once he is fluent in the foreign language.

Then, he would learn to speak the language of his parents.

Now, the child is bilingual. He can explain the foreign language.

Answer 2

With a few thousands of years, one could figure it out by trial an error pretty well. That being said, there are words that still have no translation in some other languages.

Answer 3

I point to a fish in my language and say "Fish". He points to a fish in his language and says "". It's pretty clear how it works.

Once there are enough words to describe a fair number of things, things out of eyesight can be done: "River: What do you name it where water runs to the sea?" and so on.

Answer 4

It all came from one person.. who went around constantly correcting people on their use of wrong words while talking...

I believe he was finally executed for insulting the King.