From my understanding, the word "tongues" is used 
in several contexts: 

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T1.  KNOWN LANGUAGE (but unknown to the speaker). 
    cf. Acts 2:4-12. 
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T2.  UNKNOWN LANGUAGE (and unknown to the speaker). 

    For tongues that fall under category T2., 
    there appears to be two subcategories: 
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    T2.1  PRIVATE TONGUE (with NO interpretation). 
    "He who speaks in a tongue edifies HIMSELF..."  1 Cor 14:4a. 
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    T2.2  PUBLIC TONGUE (that requires interpretation) 
    "If anyone speaks in a tongue, 
     two--or at the most three--should speak, one at a time, 
     and SOMEONE MUST INTERPRET."   1 Cor 14:27 
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BUT, the question comes: 

How do we know whether a tongue that is spoken 
is a PRIVATE tongue or a PUBLIC tongue meant 
to be spoken to the entire group of Christians? 

The answer to this is in 1 Cor 14:28. 
First, speak the tongue out. 
Then wait for an interpretation. 
If no interpretation if forthcoming, 
then it is a private tongue. 
Sit down. 
Just speak to God privately. 

"If there is NO INTERPRETER, 
the speaker should KEEP QUIET in the church 
and SPEAK TO HIMSELF AND GOD [i.e. 'private tongue']." 
                                       1 Cor 14:28. 

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The apostle Paul spoke in tongues. 
"I [Paul] thank God that I speak in tongues more than all of you." 
1 Cor 14:18 

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Also, tongues was seen as the fulfilment of God's prophecy 
to the people of Israel. 

21In the Law it is written: 
  "Through men of STRANGE TONGUES 
      and through the lips of foreigners 
  I will speak to this people, 
      but even then they will not listen to me,"[6] says the Lord. 

1 Cor 14:21 

If you read the text, you will see that Paul 
is quoting this prophecy from Isaiah 28:11-12 
as support for speaking of tongues. 

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At the same time, it needs to be recognized that 
NOT EVERYONE SPEAKS IN TONGUES. 

"Do all have gifts of healing? 
Do all speak in tongues?"      1 Cor 12:30. 

The answer is clearly "NO!" as this is a rhetorical question. 

At the same time, tongues is mentioned in the same breath 
as gifts of healing.  So, if we believe that the gift of healing 
is still operational, then so should tongues.  :) 

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Jonathan Koh
Toronto, 2003