There are potions of animal speaking. Just use that...
+1 - exactly, they last until long rest and they don't over-write anything and they are cheap.
And they are all over the place. I use them all the time and I generally have 2-3 on hand without every having to buy one. Wasting a spell slot or an item slot is a complete waste when a 30gp potion will solve the problem.
I generally have well over 15k in cash before even hitting the underdark, so I wouldn't sweat a few dozen gp. There are also amulets or rings for most of the useful noncombat spells out there, and a little money and/or searching is a much better use of your resources as every spell slot counts when a fight could be right around the corner.
I early access, yes, but it's possible things will be different in full release.
I suspect it'll be similar though.
One of the best places to get animal speaking potions is to trade with Volo. At least in early access, he has five of them in his inventory. You can buy them from him. Or steal them, I suppose.
I think Disguise Self might be sneaky good too. First, it actually changes your appearance which is just fun, but I heard (haven't tried it) that you can use it to speak with dead who normally would not speak with you if you were the one who killed them.
Not just hearsay, it 100% works with Speak with Dead.
