On the subject of “speaking in tongues”, I recall seeing a hypnotist’s show in which he instructed his (English-speaking) subjects to speak in “Chinese”. Sure enough, each obliged with his own convincing-sounding version of fake Chinese. I think it’s safe to assume that God or some other supernatural force was not controlling their minds at that moment.
I’d like to point out that in my experience and the churches that I’ve been in, there are claims of two kinds of tongues. The miraculous tongues described by Triskadecamus (the Pentecost) is only one of them.
The second kind is based mainly on 1st Corinthians 14. Of special note are verses 2 & 4.
So, these kinds of tongues are for personal edification, and not for the edification of the church. They are taught as a personal prayer language and are therefore not interpretable (usually mentioned here is 1 Cor. 13 and having the tongues of men and angels, therefore the language is non-human). The only time it is interpreted is when these people feel they should let the church hear what they are saying, and then everyone waits for an “interpretation”, which is when someone who feels they know what is being said.
I’ve read linguistic studies of glossaholia, and they always come up to be gibberish. Those who claimed the gift of interpretation were given a tape of someone speaking in tongues, and both interpreted something completely different. Studies of the tongues themself found no known language or even a language construct. It is basically babbling.
I’ve spoken in tongues, given interpretations and even words of knowledge. I’ve met with those who claim a gift of prophesy and of healing. I spent years in these kinds of churches, they are anything but orderly and always emotionally charged. I don’t believe that any of it is supernatural and I have my own opinions of such things now which I will expound on if anyone would like. But I will say this, they are ALL highly emotional experiences. And once someone “feels” something, it is very difficult to convince them that what they are feeling is in no way supernatural or from God.