Charles Ellicott Commentary 1 Corinthians 14:11

"If then I know not the meaning of the voice, I shall be to him that speaketh a barbarian, and he that speaketh will be a barbarian unto me." — 1 Corinthians 14:11 (ASV)

Therefore if I do not know the meaning of the voice.—Language is useless unless we know what meaning is attached to each word uttered. The hearer is a foreigner (or barbarian), then, in the estimation of the speaker, and the speaker a foreigner in the estimation of the hearer.

Thus, the truth that sounds of tongues are useless unless they convey definite ideas to the hearers is illustrated in the following ways:

1. by different instruments of music;
2. by different sounds of an instrument;
3. by different words and languages of living men.

In all of these cases, the conveyance of distinct ideas is the sign and test of their utility.