What kind of sound was the tongue spoken of in 1 Corinthians 14?
The tongue in 1 Corinthians 14 denoted a guttural sound that had no phonetics to it. It could not be reduced to writing and had no pronunciation. The word "unknown" is italicized because translators added it, as they struggled to handle the singular "tongue."
Les explains that the singular "tongue" in 1 Corinthians 14 denoted a sound that had no phonetics to it. It could not be reduced to writing; it was just a guttural sound with no pronunciation. He notes the translators added "unknown" in italics because even the King James translators did not know how to handle this word in the singular. In contrast, Les encourages believers to desire prophecy, which is simply speaking the Word of God, not telling the future. He says we are not to ask for a specific gift, as that is up to the Holy Spirit to discern.
For he that speaketh in an unknown tongue speaketh not unto men, but unto God: for no man understandeth him; howbeit in the spirit he speaketh mysteries.