When a person " speaks in tongues" does anybody understand what they are trying to say?

Question

If one could speak in a language that different dialects can understand that would be impressive.

Answer 1

Supposedly, there is always someone who will receive the "gift of translation".

Tongues, is not ancient dialects. Unless you call dada da dede da dede dadada dede an ancient dialect. Yea, maybe an ancient dialect of toddlers.

It is gibberish and fake.

Answer 2

Don't be fooled by what you are seeing today! The Bible is clear on this subject as it states that where there are tongues they shall cease. Why? because today we have the complete word of God and there is now no longer a need for speaking in tongues.
The gift of tongues was given in the first place to preach the Gospel to unbelieving Jews in their own language therefore it was a known language but unknown to the speaker as the Holy spirit would speak through the speaker in a foreign language without the speaker ever having learned the language, The interpreter was there to tell the Church what was being said as the hearer understood perfectly as he was hearing the Gospel in his own native language. At any one Church meeting there were to be no more than 3 people speak in tongues and then it had to be one at a time and if there was no interpreter present then they were to remain silent. The so called tongues speakers of today are a total farce and make a mockery of the Lord. They utter some ecstatic gibberish which is unknown to be any language on earth and then several hundred people all babble at once. Its a total turn off.

Answer 3

According to the bible, it says that when a man speaks in tongues, he speaks to God. NO MAN understands.

1 Corinthians 14:2
For the person who speaks in [another] language is not speaking to men but to God, since no one understands him; however, he speaks mysteries in the Spirit.

However, we note that in the book of Acts, the observers were able to hear the tongue speaking in their own language. That however, does not contradict with the above 1 Corinthians 14:2. It merely shows that God performed an additional miracle to make people hear the tongue speaking in their own language.

Additionally, in the book of corinthians, its says there should be an interpreter if the prophesying tongue is spoken.

We see 3 things here.

1 - Tongue speaking is UNintelligible to man.
2 - Prophesying tongue requires an interpreter.
3 - Speaking in tongues is the manifestation of receiving the Spirit.

Answer 4

That would be impressive, but when people these days "speak in tongues" all they're doing is spouting gibberish and making a big show of their faith, not much of a departure from what Christians usually do, if you ask me.

Answer 5

speaking in tongues as in the time of Pentecost (as recorded in the Book of Acts) by the first disciples of Jesus of Nazareth... was described as being able to speak in a language that one knows nothing about... i.e. Jews speaking the language of Phrygians, Pamphylians, Egyptians, Libyans, Cretans, Arabs and other foreigners and peoples that speak those tongues were able to hear and understand what was being said...

Answer 6

I have the same respect for those who "speak in tongues" as I have for professional wrestlers.

Answer 7

Of course not!!!! They are just running babbling words of no language and they are supposed to have an interpreter to do it... Most don't because it is GARBLE... You want to try??? You'll look around in amazement at these people who do it.. Heavenly Language??? Then we all should know it....

Answer 8

Hype. Over the top emotions. Good or bad acting. Of course no one can undestand them. They are babbling nothing.

Answer 9

only if they "listen in ears"

actually there is a "gift" listed along with the other spiritual gifts that adresses that specific thing...

Answer 10

I can't understand those people when they speak in English...