From: utzoo!decvax!yale-com!brunix!gh Newsgroups: net.misc Title: Re: Speaking in unknown languages Article-I.D.: brunix.1314 Posted: Sat Jan 29 16:16:21 1983 Received: Sun Jan 30 03:06:59 1983 References: ucbvax.747 The "speaking in tongues" phenomenon is known technically as glossolalia, and there are psychological studies of it (at least one book -- sorry I don't recall the author or exact title -- and many papers). It seems fairly clear that the phenomenon is related to hypnotic states, and there is a strong correlation between tongue-speaking ability and hypnotizability. In charismatic Christian circles, both glossolalia and the ability to "interpret" the message are considered to be gifts ("charisma", in the pre-1965 sense of the word) from God. I have known tongue-speakers; they considered it a very personal matter, and did not like to discuss it with non-charismatics. Graeme Hirst, Brown University !{decvax, vax135, yale-comix}!brunix!gh