Glossolalia, or speaking in tongues, is a phenomenon in which conscious language is transformed into a third language. Prayer Translator is an interactive sound system that electronically recreates this "mechanism of transformation" inherent in glossolalia. The participant's speech is deconstructed and fragmented into phonemes, which are then reassembled into a musical structure. Prayer Translator serves as a medium for intimate confession — like the window of a confessional booth — while also becoming a passage through which words pass through algorithms and transform into sound.
This work is part of the Tephillah series, which explores interfaces for prayer based on the Christian worldview. While the previous work, Prayer Conductor, employed a gesture-based typing interface using Leap Motion and physical objects, Prayer Translator expands the concept into a participatory experience by introducing a voice-based input interface.
Prayer Translator, 2025, Interactive electronic music sculpture
A room surrounded by white cloths — the space recreates an inner chamber. At the center sits Prayer Translator. Visitors may recite a prepared prayer text or speak their own stories. The prepared text can be read by anyone, regardless of religious background.
