Furthermore, all the subjects and objects were in the same space and time. This is what made it possible for you to understand. The point is that redundancy is good. In a foreign land, one uses every means possible to transmit intentions and read all the signals to determine even minimal levels of understanding. Think of a computer as being in such a foreign land, ours, and being expected to do everything through the single channel of hearing.
Humans naturally gravitate to concurrent means of expression.
Those of you who know a second language, but do not know it very well, will avoid, if at all possible, using the telephone. If you arrive at an Italian hotel and find no soap in the room, you will go down to the concierge and use your best Berlitz to ask for soap. You may even make a few bathing gestures. That says a lot. When I talk with my computers in the future, I will expect the same plural interface.