Level
3rd
Casting Time
1 Action
Range/Area
Touch
Components
V, M *
Duration
1 Hour
School
Divination
Attack/Save
None
Damage/Effect
Communication (...)
This spell grants the creature you touch the ability to understand any spoken language it hears. Moreover, when the target speaks, any creature that knows at least one language and can hear the target understands what it says.
* - (a small clay model of a ziggurat)
This is brilliant
As written, this seems like the means for an Arcane caster to speak with animals. Cast Tongues on the beast, now the beast can understand everything, and everyone can understand the beast. Or any other creature that otherwise cannot speak.
If you cast it on an animal, that animal would be able to understand you, but it wouldn't be able to speak unless it already could. The spell says "when the target speaks" other creatures can understand what it says, but it doesn't say that it gives the target the ability to speak.