glossolalia: meaning, definition, pronunciation and examples
C2 / Very Rare / TechnicalSpecialized; primarily used in academic, theological, and psychological contexts.
Quick answer
What does “glossolalia” mean?
A phenomenon of speaking in an unknown language, often associated with religious or spiritual ecstasy.
Audio
Pronunciation
Definition
Meaning and Definition
A phenomenon of speaking in an unknown language, often associated with religious or spiritual ecstasy.
In a broader linguistic context, it can refer to fluid, meaningless speech that mimics language structure without conveying semantic content.
Dialectal Variation
British vs American Usage
Differences
No significant difference in meaning or usage. Both use the term in theological, anthropological, and psychological literature.
Connotations
Carries strong connotations of religious ecstasy (especially Pentecostal Christianity), psychological dissociation, or anthropological curiosity.
Frequency
Equally rare in both varieties, confined to specialized discourse.
Grammar
How to Use “glossolalia” in a Sentence
[Subject] practices/experiences/speaks in glossolalia.Glossolalia occurred during [event].Vocabulary
Collocations
Examples
Examples of “glossolalia” in a Sentence
verb
British English
- The congregation member began to glossolalise during the prayer meeting.
American English
- Witnesses reported that the revivalist glossolalized for several minutes.
adverb
British English
- He prayed glossalalically, his words flowing without conscious control.
American English
- The message was delivered glossalalically, to the amazement of the crowd.
adjective
British English
- The glossolalic episode was recorded for later analysis.
American English
- She entered a glossolalic state during meditation.
Usage
Meaning in Context
Business
Virtually never used.
Academic
Common in religious studies, psychology, anthropology, and linguistics papers discussing ecstatic speech.
Everyday
Extremely rare; would likely require explanation.
Technical
The standard term in relevant fields to denote the specific phenomenon.
Vocabulary
Synonyms of “glossolalia”
Neutral
Weak
Vocabulary
Antonyms of “glossolalia”
Watch out
Common Mistakes When Using “glossolalia”
- Confusing it with polyglossia (multilingualism) or simply 'babbling'.
- Using it to describe any rapid or excited speech.
- Misspelling: 'glossalalia', 'glossolalia'.
FAQ
Frequently Asked Questions
No. Glossolalia is not a real, identifiable human language. It is phonologically structured but semantically meaningless speech, unlike multilingualism which involves competence in actual languages.
No. It is most prominent in Pentecostal and Charismatic Christian traditions. Many other denominations view it with skepticism or believe it was a temporary gift in the early Church.
Yes, anthropologists note that the phonetic patterns can be unconsciously mimicked within a community. Some individuals may also produce similar speech under hypnosis or through deliberate imitation.
Glossolalia is speaking an unlearned, non-human language. Xenoglossy (much rarer and more disputed) is the purported ability to speak a genuine human language the speaker has never learned.
A phenomenon of speaking in an unknown language, often associated with religious or spiritual ecstasy.
Glossolalia is usually specialized; primarily used in academic, theological, and psychological contexts. in register.
Glossolalia: in British English it is pronounced /ˌɡlɒsəˈleɪlɪə/, and in American English it is pronounced /ˌɡlɑːsəˈleɪliə/. Tap the audio buttons above to hear it.
Learning
Memory Aids
Mnemonic
Think of 'gloss-' (tongue/language, as in glossary) + '-lalia' (speech, as in echolalia). 'Tongue-speech'.
Conceptual Metaphor
LANGUAGE IS A GIFT / LANGUAGE IS A MYSTERY / THE MIND IS A VESSEL (for divine inspiration).
Practice
Quiz
What is the primary field where the term 'glossolalia' is used?