Speaking in tongues, which is referred to as “glossolalia” in the academic world, is most widely practiced by Pentecostalists and other Christian denominations. When someone speaks in tongues, it is believed that the “Holy Spirit” is speaking through them in a language that only God understands, even if they cannot understand it. Speaking in tongues can apparently happen to anyone who feels the spirit. And for everyone who’s watching the person speak in tongues, the whole thing can be a confusing, awkward, and sometimes terrifying experience.