Glossolalia: meaning, definitions and examples

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glossolalia

 

[ ɡlɒsəˈleɪliə ]

Noun
Context #1 | Noun

spiritual phenomenon

Glossolalia, often referred to as 'speaking in tongues,' is a phenomenon where individuals produce a stream of speech-like but nonsensical sounds. It commonly occurs during religious experiences, where it's believed to be a form of divine communication. This practice is especially prominent in certain Pentecostal and Charismatic Christian movements, where it is viewed as a gift of the Holy Spirit. Some psychological and linguistics studies explore its nature, suggesting it may involve a mix of learned behavior and spontaneous vocalization.

Synonyms

prayer language, speaking in tongues, spiritual language

Examples of usage

  • During the church service, many participants engaged in glossolalia.
  • Glossolalia can often be observed in spiritual revival meetings.
  • His glossolalia seemed to enhance the emotional atmosphere of the gathering.

Translations

Translations of the word "glossolalia" in other languages:

🇵🇹 glossolalia

🇮🇳 भाषा की धारणा

🇩🇪 Glossolalie

🇮🇩 glossolalia

🇺🇦 глосолалія

🇵🇱 glosolalia

🇯🇵 グロソラリア

🇫🇷 glossolalie

🇪🇸 glosolalia

🇹🇷 glossolali

🇰🇷 방언

🇸🇦 التكلم بلغات غير مفهومة

🇨🇿 glosolálie

🇸🇰 glosolália

🇨🇳 说方言

🇸🇮 glosolalija

🇮🇸 glossolalia

🇰🇿 глосолалия

🇬🇪 გლოსოლალია

🇦🇿 glossolaliya

🇲🇽 glosolalia

Etymology

The term 'glossolalia' derives from the Greek words 'glōssa,' meaning 'tongue' or 'language,' and 'lalia,' meaning 'speaking' or 'discourse.' The word was first used in the early 20th century to describe the phenomenon of speaking in tongues in a religious context, particularly within Pentecostalism. Its practice can be traced back to the New Testament, specifically in the Book of Acts, where the apostles are said to have spoken in different languages as a sign of the Holy Spirit's influence. Over the years, glossolalia has been a subject of interest among theologians, linguists, and psychologists, leading to various interpretations and explanations of its occurrence in worship and its psychological implications.

Word Frequency Rank

Ranking #37,232, this word is encountered relatively rarely in everyday English. It might appear in literary works or specialized texts but isn't essential for general communication.