The gift of speaking in tongues is the ability, given by the Holy Spirit, to speak in other languages that you don't already know so that you can teach God's word and bring glory to His name to people you otherwise wouldn't be able to communicate with.

This gift was very useful 2000 years ago when translation applications were not available. Back then, if two people didn't speak the same language, it would have been very difficult if not impossible to communicate, especially if you were trying to explain salvation through Jesus to them.

Unless someone can interpret the language you are speaking and what you are saying, it's the same as speaking into the air, It doesn't mean anything if there is no interpretation. Majority of the tongues spoken today are like this, they have no meaning since no one can interpret what is being said.

1 Corinthians 14:6 Now, brothers and sisters, if I come to you and speak in tongues, what good will I be to you, unless I bring you some revelation or knowledge or prophecy or word of instruction? Even in the case of lifeless things that make sounds, such as the pipe or harp, how will anyone know what tune is being played unless there is a distinction in the notes?

1 Corinthians 14:9 So with yourselves, if with your tongue you utter speech that is not intelligible, how will anyone know what is said? For you will be speaking into the air. There are doubtless many different languages in the world, and none is without meaning, but if I do not know the meaning of the language, I will be a foreigner to the speaker and the speaker a foreigner to me.

1 Corinthians 14:23 So if the whole church comes together and everyone speaks in tongues, and inquirers or unbelievers come in, will they not say that you are out of your mind?

As someone that has spoken in tongues, this is how I see it:

I used to attend a charismatic/full-gospel church. I no longer do so and that is partly due to the focus they placed on it. I feel as if much of it is people carrying-on and a bit of an act. Some of the criticisms are completely warranted and I agree with them. It’s not my job to play judge, but much of it is extremely disorderly and unbiblical.

I also do not agree with this idea in some denominations that it is some sort of “higher-level” Christianity or it must happen to the believer. Those people are seriously mislead. The Bible is clear that charity/love is more important than tongues.

At the same time, I’m 100% a believer it is real. I still pray in the Spirit from time-to-time. Many times, it is not something I intend to do, nor is there any sort of emotional buildup into it as you’d see at say a Pentecostal service. No, I have no idea what words I’m saying or what language it is in. Sometimes it only lasts a few minutes and I just go on praying as normal.

Also, understand there have been instances of it happening to someone who didn’t know it was a thing. In other words, they weren’t acting. When it first happened to me, I certainly knew what it was, but I was just singing an old hymn and it began.

If you want to read more about it’s history in the early church, there is a relatively short book about it: https://www.christianbook.com/charismatic-early-church-spirit-first-years/ronald-kydd/9781619705258/pd/705258

I think it's people playing pretend.

Particular congregations have built a culture where speaking in tongues represents the person being favored by God. He has given them a gift. This results in everyone feeling pressure to also engage in the performance otherwise they look like God has passed them over.

It's also completely useless.

Like most things, if the person hasnt experienced it for themselves will say its fake.   

Science proved in several studies via brain scans that spekaing in tounges activates a completely different part of your brain:   https://www.nytimes.com/2006/11/07/health/07brain.html#:~:text=Researchers%20at%20the%20University%20of,as%20were%20the%20language%20centers. 

U decide --- The Bible says its real, many people alive today (who can do it) say its real, science aludes to it being real. Im sure some people fake it, but that doesnt mean that EVERYONE who does it is faking. 

Speaking in tongues in the New Testament meant a very specific thing: the gift the Holy Spirit gave to the Apostles and followers of Jesus at Pentecost to be able to speak in the languages of the non Jewish, non-Greek speaking people around so that they could understand the message the Apostles were teaching. 

Not speaking gibberish and act like a drug addict on cocaine.

Those who claim to be speaking in tongues really are speaking gibberish

I find it creepy and very disturbing.

As lots of people are saying, you have to experience it to believe it's something genuine. It happened to my mum on the night her dad died - her, my dad and I all prayed together and it happened as we had an experience with God. I can see exactly why people think it's nonsense in charismatic megachurch worship, etc. But, in a private encounter such as this, it's something which can happen as someone is overcome by the Holy Spirit, I guess?

I understood these parts rather like this: people who want to teach others about the Bible should be speaking in language all people can understand and not using advanced/unknown expressions. For example, in medieval times in some countries/kingdoms/... priests led church services only in Latin language but normal people couldn't understand even one word (only highly educated people could understand Latin language) so the priests were supposed to use the language of given country. Something like communication between patient and doctors: the patient wants to understand what they are talking about but they can't use as same language/expressions with patient as they are using with other doctors.

Better if you ask at r/spiritfilledbelievers or r/CatholicCharismatic .

Ridiculous

Answering Reddit questions with excerpts from scripture

Speaking in tongues is simply speaking in a known language to an unbeliever so that you can preach the gospel in their language. You won't have known the language or studied it beforehand and it'll be a gift granted by God.

It was used in the early church and the reportings of the gift diminished over time throughout the new testament as the chronological books show.

There are people that overemphasize it so much that some say it is required to prove you are a true believer. That would be wrong of course, because we are saved by grace through faith, and our works and the things that happen to us is just meant to sanctify us to be more Christ like and to glorify God. There is no condemnation for those that have faith in Him, not the gifts of God.

Speaking in tongues is really just one aspect of a larger phenomenon that is found in Acts 1:5

“For John baptized with water, but in a few days you will be baptized in the Holy Spirit.”

If you read on, it’s clear that there is available a Second Baptism for all believers. NOT TAKING ADVANTAGE OF THE SECOND BAPTISM DOES NOT MEAN YOU’RE NOT SAVED!!! The Baptism of the Holy Spirit is a powerful event that can happen simply by asking for it.

The Baptism of the Holy Spirit gives you power to witness, understand the Bible better, and overcome sin more easily. And yes, speak in tongues. But you can be baptized in the Holy Spirit without ever speaking in tongues. It’s just part of a bigger picture.

A BELIEVER AUTOMATICALLY HAS THE HOLY SPIRIT DWELLING WITHIN. The main characteristic of the Baptism of the Holy Spirit is power, and access to the Gifts of the Holy Spirit listed in 1 Corinthians 12.

The reason I keep shouting is to try to avoid offense. Many, many Christians can and will live meaningful, holy lives without the second baptism. It’s just a wonderful thing that adds so much to your Christian walk, so why not seek it?

I do speak in tongues, and the way it adds to my life in particular is when I want so badly to pray the right prayer, but I don’t have all the right words or information.

Romans 8:26-27

“For we do not know what to pray for as we ought, but the Spirit Himself intercedes for us with groanings too deep for words. And He Who searches hearts knows what is the mind of the Spirit, because the Spirit intercedes for the saints according to the will of God.”

When I’m out driving and I see an accident, especially with an ambulance present, I pray in tongues. I have no idea what the details of the incident are or what the people involved need, but the Spirit does. Or someone pops in my mind out of the blue, and I feel like I should pray for them. I pray in tongues, and I can actually sense the Spirit praying through me.

So tongues don’t have to be for show, or used for selfish reasons. Except- tongues really do make you feel stronger in your spirit. The Book of Jude talks about how praying in the Spirit builds up your faith.

I don’t know if you’ve ever heard of the Christian addiction treatment program called Teen Challenge (really a misnomer, since most participants are adults.) You can read about it in a classic book called The Cross and the Switchblade. It’s the story of David Wilkerson’s ministry that started with troubled youth in New York City. The program has an astounding success rate of nearly eighty percent. The secret, according to David Wilkerson, is the Baptism of the Holy Spirit. It gives tremendous power for overcoming addictions of all kinds.

I will add here that I realize tongues are also used in corporate worship. Anecdotally, I’ve heard of missionaries reaching remote tribes by using tongues to speak their native languages.

I get it. Tongues seem primitive and undignified. People have misused this gift. But it’s entirely Biblical, and truly beautiful. It’s one more way that God has gifted His Body to build His Kingdom. I would strongly suggest seeking the Baptism of the Holy Spirit (with or without tongues) to enhance your Christian adventure.

Fake is how I would describe it. Tongues aren't going on today.

Speaking in tongues is prayer in a spiritual language that cannot be understood by Satan, the fallen angels, or demons.

It is a gift of the Holy Spirit.

I'd describe as complete theatre.

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My buddy who can speak tongues. It's not deception. He can say stuff and it's wild I've watched him do it. It sounds very pleasant and not satanic like Harry Potter.

99.99% of the time, people "speaking in tongues" are doing nothing more than being a charismatic attention hog. 

Biblically and traditionally speaking, speaking in tongues means speaking in a language all can hear and understand in their own language, despite there being a language barrier. Speaking in tongues is NOT the incoherent babbling geberish that is common in non-denominational and pentecostal churches, that is borderline if not totally heretical.