Published: 2023-05-291

Glossolalia of God and Man. Linguistics versus Theology

Abstract

The paper presents an analysis of the phenomenon of glossolalia, which can be observed amongst millions of Christians from various denominations across all continents. Based on linguistic studies by W. Samarin, F. Goodman and M. Motley, the author outlines main theses related to the perception of glossolalia as a so-called ‘pseudo-language’ and a real language substitute.
It is not possible to distinguish words or meaning in glossolalia, however, a pattern of stress, rhythm of utterance, intonation as well as syllables may be found, which ultimately do not create semantic communication between speakers and listeners. While practitioners of glossolalia consider it a real language, from a linguistic stance it constitutes a phonologically structured human utterance bearing no resemblance to any natural language, dead or living. Glossolalia, above all, is a religious speech through which Christians convey the inexpressible. Glossolalia, associated with the Pentecostal, Neo-Pentecostal and Charismatic movements, is neither ‘babbling’ nor ‘mumbling’. In the author’s opinion, it should not be viewed as ecstatic behaviour or a state of trance.
From the theological point of view, glossolalia is a gift of the Holy Spirit,
a charism, given to the believers in order to edify the community of the
Church of Jesus Christ.

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Tomczyk, D. (2023). Glossolalia of God and Man. Linguistics versus Theology. Theological Yearbook, 64(3), 675. https://doi.org/10.36124/rt.2022.25

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